Posted on 01/11/2016 9:40:27 AM PST by jazusamo
Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year and had no trouble winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday.
Staked to a five-shot lead, Spieth made two straight birdies around the turn at Kapalua to restore his margin, and he spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the views of surf and sun on Maui. The view from the top is just as stunning at the moment, not so much for those trying to catch him.
Spieth made an 8-foot birdie putt to reach his target, even though he didn't need it. He closed with a 6-under 67 for an eight-shot victory overPatrick Reed. He finished at 30-under 262, joining Ernie Els as the only players in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30 under or lower.
Els set his record of 31 under at Kapalua in 2003 with an eight-shot win.
"I felt like it was short three-week break and continue what we were doing last year," said Spieth, coming off a five-win season that included the Masters and U.S. Open. "That's the way I'll keep on thinking about it. It worked this week. All parts were firing."
Reed, the defending champion at Kapalua, got within three shots with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. Spieth answered with a two-putt birdie in the group behind him, and then rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 10th and was on his way.
He had talked about setting 30 under as his goal because it such gorgeous conditions, he might need it to hold off anyone making a big run.
Turns out he didn't need it.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxsports.com ...
Golf is the only sport where you pay obscenely high prices to play as little as possible. /25 handicap and loving it.
LOL! Me too, been there and done that.
Jordan makes watching golf as compelling as Tiger ever did. He is every bit as good, yet he seems to do it in a steadier or less dramatic fashion. Maybe it's the media presentation that is more subdued by not sensationalizing his every move to accentuate an ethnic story.
Remembering that Ben Hogan returned to have a fantastic run after almost being killed in a car wreck; it would be fun to see Tiger heal up and end up in a final pairing with Jordan somewhere - especially in a major.
Dustin Johnson is neither.
I’m pulling for him the rest of the year....
I’m ready for golf to start!
That’s getting the year off to a good start.
I fluctuate from 9-12 handicap, {from the gold tees} on my home course, it's very easy to play, little sand, little water, great big {some are 15,000 square feet} smooth greens {about 11 on the meter}, few trees and not many hills. I'm in my mid-70s been playing 50+ years and was once a single digit handicapper, but golf is still fun.
I'll play as long as my health allows, although today, a 210 yard drive for me, is as good as it gets, so when I see these young guys hitting them 350+ it puts it all in perspective.
I shot my age last year so I'm a happy camper.
One of the things that impresses me is how many 6 - 10 foot putts he makes to save par.
I hear you. It’s uncanny how many of those putts he makes, they’re cliffhangers but he keeps his cool.
I wasn't aware of his two back surgeries but that would explain alot........
I'd like to see him make a come back too, I just don't have any interest in golf if he's not in the run........
I would certainly like to see a new up and comer like Spieth who would rival what Woods did in his prime years on the tour.........
Watch what happens when Jordan, Rory, Rickie, Bubba and Jason Day start showing up in the same fields. Then throw in Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Smylie Kaufman and it think we're gonna be treated to some great golf this year.
He is the epitome of “drive for show, putt for dough”. He’s not as long as some but long enough and more accurate than most. Combine that with a great iron game and lights out putting and he is one tough competitor.
You’re right, I think the game is going to another level with these young players. Plus, at any given tournament there’s a good chance that the winner will come out of a pool of good, pleasant, players you can root for.
There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.
Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List:
Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.
When you went golfing, you came to play, not stand around while others took shot after shot! ... My nickname on the golf course was ‘Doc’. I’ll let you guess why.
Thanks for pinging your list, ZE! He was smokin’ :)
The pros are starting to say, "You've been Spiethed", when Jordan drains those 15-18 ft putts that leaves the playing partner speechless. Started last year when Hendrik Stenson got Spiethed 5 times in one round!
We share a lot. Except my 3-wood is 210 yds. lol
That's a good one, haven't heard that before.
Looking forward to all the good younger players coming up, it'll be a plus for golf.
Spieth’s mental game is right up there with Nicklaus and Faldo in his prime. Spieth doesn’t have the distance Nicklaus had early in his career, but Spieth has the short game Jack never had, except putting. Jack was a great putter.
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