That was all he needed to become the youngest player to capture the FedEx Cup and its US$10 million bonus. Imagine how Henrik Stenson felt when Spieth dropped in one big putt after another. He saved par at the 15th with a putt from just inside 3m, and made a par-saver from a similar distance on the next hole.
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“I lost the number one ranking and I was watching Jason Day dominating golf”.
After his incredible feat he was first congratulated by his sister, Ellie, his parents, girlfriend, grandfather and tight group of school friends.
Danny Lee will move into the world’s top 50 after his performance.
Stenson couldn’t do much about it.
Swede Stenson began the drizzly day with a three-shot lead over Spieth, but his mastery of the venerable course waned in the soggy conditions as he posted four bogeys and two birdies for 72 and a 203 aggregate.
Spieth’s capacity to close the deal all season has been quite extraordinary, and back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth of his final round gave him the cushion to push on and reaffirm his credentials as the ultimate closer.
“It’s been a phenomenal year for him”, Stenson said.
He missed the cut at the first two FedEx Cup events in a rare lapse, but has battled back in typical style to claim the prestigious end of season honor.
“It was the same putting display today – just an exhibition on the greens to be honest”. “It’s hard to argue that”. To have made the Tour Championship was an achievement in itself but to have won earlier in the year and to have made the Presidents Cup side further cements a great year. Well, it meant an extra $1 million for Stenson and one fewer million for Day. It nearly all fell apart on 17, when he shanked his shot over the gallery and into the muddy rough. And would a million dollar FedEx Cup bonus change that?
July 12: Wins the John Deere Classic and shoots the lowest round of his professional career, a third-round 61.
But this week – and year – was all about Spieth.
MAJOR PREPARATION: Spieth looked at the Tour Championship as if it were a major championship. He showed up Monday morning and was the first player on the practice range at East Lake. For other golfers, it may be scary to think that Spieth is just getting started, as he finally had a chance to reflect on all he’s accomplished. He also became the youngest player to win the Tour Championship and is the only player ever to win The Masters and the Tour Championship in the same season.
Spieth added: “This is an event we approached like a major championship”.
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“I got to work, put my head down a little more than I did right after the PGA, knowing that we could still peak this week and that’s what we did”. “Mentally we stayed in it even if I didn’t have my best ball striking, and boy that putter sure paid off”. So the world of golf will likely turn to Spieth as the next to make a run at Sam Snead’s record of 82 wins or Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
