The question was, who would chase down the young lad and the incredible golf he was playing? Gillis, who was three groups ahead of Spieth, fired a 64.
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Since the modern era of majors began in 1934, Lee Trevino in 1971 was the only player to win a PGA TOUR event the week before winning The Open.
However, the 14-time major victor did card three sub-par rounds to finish joint 32nd in the Greenbrier Classic in his last start, including a bogey-free closing 67. He finished with a six-under-par round of 65.
Michael Cohen/Getty Images Spieth hits one out of the bunker as he defeats Tom Gillis in a playoff on Sunday. Age was not a factor, however. His four birdies on the back nine forced a playoff with Tom Gillis.
Danny Lee acknowledges the crowd at the John Deere Classic this morning.
FanSided Daily brings you the hottest content on your favorite teams. The 24-year-old mistakenly lifted, cleaned and placed his ball in the fourth fairway, resulting in a one-stroke penalty.
Spieth found himself right of the fairway on the first playoff hole but hit an impressive shot onto the green, giving himself a chance at birdie.
During the final round, a bogey on the 11th coupled with Gillis’s charge saw him lose ground. However, his first ever PGA Tour win came from the humble vicinity of Silvis, Illinois, in a tournament sponsored by farming equipment giant John Deere. The pair had finished 72 holes tied at 20 under par, with Spieth’s charge even to get to that point worthy of credit.
Spieth had a 30-foot putt for the win on No. 18, but he pushed it left. He made his par and the golfers headed back to the 18th tee for another go around.
It was Spieth’s second win in three attempts in the event after being initially given an invite to play in 2013.
But his superb touch and finesse on and around the greens allied to his excellent course management skills make him a natural for links golf courses where imaginative shot-making is key. The door was now wide open for the young lad.
At the TPC Deere Run outside Chicago he was outside the top 100 after the first round when he admitted he was “rusty”, worked his way back into contention on Friday then exploded with a 61 on Saturday.
“This tournament means a lot to me”, he said. I love where my putter is at. “The fans are so respectful and knowledgeable”.
“Having said that, I don’t want to be critical of Jordan because I’m full of admiration for his sense of loyalty to sponsors who have been good to him in the past”.
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The victory was the world number two’s fourth of the season and the 21-year-old moved within one victory of tying Tiger Woods for the most wins on the PGA Tour before age 22, the Tour said.
