Jordan Spieth poses for photographers as he holds the trophy after his win in the Tournament of Champions golf event Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.
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Jordan Spieth has taken another step toward cementing his position as the world’s best golfer.
In Monday’s report from ESPN, the golfer won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii. I’m very excited with where I am at as a start to my career and what Tiger has done.
“I wanted to continue what we were doing previous year”, he said.
Jordan Spieth finished the event on 30-under-par, just one shy of the record set at Kapalua by Ernie Els in 2003.
Butch Harmon happened to coach Woods in those years when he established his hegemony and after watching Spieth put yet more daylight between him and Ryder Cup partner Patrick Reed with a final-round 67, was prepared to make the connection. “It’s fantastic being out here with what we’re trying to do, and doing it well”.
“My mentality didn’t change after I got started”, Reed said. With four par fives and a couple of short par fours, getting up-and-down for birdies form just off the large greens is vital and few (if anyone) have better scrambling skills than Spieth and Reed.
“It’s incredible the way Jordan manages his game going around all 18 holes”, said Brooks Koepka, who was paired with Spieth in the final round and finished in a tie for third.
The statement was almost as big as his eight-shot victory. “But I do think there is something in asking someone like Tiger a lot of questions on how he’s been able to do it”. That’s not to suggest it felt like a breeze, especially early. He played them in 1 under. “But I can sit here and say that my putting certainly is ready for the Masters to be next week”. On the first hole, Spieth’s approach somehow settled inches away on the top of a steep bunker about 50 yards from the hole. He pitched it onto the green and let the grain take it to 4 feet for a save, and then he holed a 35-foot birdie putt on the next hole. “Jordan makes more long putts than anyone we’ve seen in a long time with the exception of Arnold Palmer”. “But I’ve got enough chances”. He eventually went on reach 30-under-par and to beat Patrick Reed by fully eight strokes and Rory McIlroy and Jason Day et al are going to have to produce stratospheric golf in 2016 if they’re going to nudge Jordan off his lofty perch.
Much like Woods in 2000, and even David Duval in 1999, he sent an early message by winning Kapalua that he wasn’t interested in this wave to end.
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Englishman Daniel Brooks, who was tied for the lead with Stone when the third round was suspended Saturday, closed with a 72 to finish 11 under and three shots behind Stone in third. That means the Ulsterman will not be able to dislodge Spieth when they both play in next week’s Abu Dhabi Championship at the European Tour.
