WATCH ABOVE: 21-year old Jordan Spieth capped off an incredible week with a Masters win. Spieth tied the all-time lowest total score finishing 18-under to claim the Green Jacket. Kevin Smith has more.
Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy all had terrific final rounds at the Masters, the kind of stellar golf that typically wins major championships. But there was nothing typical about this Masters, and especially the play of 21-year old Texan Jordan Spieth, who didn’t seem at all fazed by the stars that were chasing him.
Spieth held the lead for all four rounds, finishing at 18-under par, in turn becoming the second-youngest winner of the Masters and tying the record for the lowest total score in the history of the tournament. If it wasn’t for a bogey on the final hole, Spieth would have set a record that might take decades to break. He became only the fifth winner to hold the lead in all four rounds. Spieth is five months older than Tiger Woods was when he became the youngest winner in the tournament’s history.
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While Spieth needed to melt down to bring those chasing him into the tournament, it was clear from the start that wasn’t going to happen. Spieth birdied two of his first three holes Sunday, showing that he was going to be tough to beat. But if he didn’t look uneasy in attempting to win his first major, Spieth says it was a lot harder to keep his emotions in check than it appeared.
“It was very nerve-racking,” Spieth said. “I thought today might be a little easier having played a round with the lead, but it wasn’t. I didn’t sleep well last night. With two major champions right behind me I just couldn’t let up.”
He didn’t let up. Spieth made six birdies in the final round, at one point touching 19-under, before giving one back
Mickelson knew he needed to have a truly incredible round to challenge Spieth. Mickelson, seeking his fourth Masters win, showed the inventive form that’s made him one of the game’s legends, but 3-under par wouldn’t be enough to chase down Spieth. Mickelson finished at 14-under par, four shots behind the young Texan.
That score would traditionally be enough to win the Masters in practically any year except this one.
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“I played a good solid round of golf today, but I needed something exceptional,” Mickelson said. “I just got outplayed. Jordan played terrific.”
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Similarly, Justin Rose, a past U.S. Open winner playing alongside Spieth in the final group, had a solid round, that included three consecutive birdies on the back nine. It wasn’t enough, and Rose closed at 14-under par, tied with Mickelson for second.
“I felt like I was in the tournament from the word go,” Rose said.
Asked what he’d need to do to challenge for the Masters next year, Rose was clear: “Just shoot 14-under again. Normally that would get it done.”
But Spieth never let him have a chance.
“Every time I thought there was a chink in the armor, he’d hole an 8-foot putt,” Rose said.
It isn’t as if the big names didn’t play well. McIlroy, who started Sunday 10 shots behind Spieth, carded a 6-under 66, tying the low round of the day and finishing fourth. But it was too little, too late. McIlroy was among the golfers who lauded Spieth for his play.
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Woods, who came into the final round resurgent and tied with McIlroy, struggled from the start, shooting 1-over par and finishing in a tie for 17th.
Mickelson praised Spieth’s abilities and composure on the course.
“He’s a great shoot maker, a great putter—he has no weaknesses. He doesn’t overpower a golf course, but he plays a course strategically well,” Mickelson said. “He has that ability to perform his best when the pressure is on.”
For Spieth, following his victory he was trying to deal with the realities that come with winning the Masters and becoming the No. 2-ranked player in the game. Already one of the game’s brightest stars, the Masters win elevates him further.
“I’m still kind of in shock a little bit,” he said. “I’m sure it will settle in a little later.”
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