Jordan Spieth holds the trophy during the final round of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Sunday, June 21, 2015. (Copyright USGA/Darren Carroll)
Not even the clueless team from Fox Sports could spoil the drama, the suspense and the shocking conclusion to the 115th playing of the United States Open Championship.
Not even the complaints from guys like Billy Horschel could put one dent into the trophy that Jordan Spieth hoisted on Sunday afternoon at Chambers Bay, not long before sunset.
It was a stunning victory for the young Masters champion with an ending that featured the ecstasy of Spieth and the agony of Dustin Johnson.
Spieth spent Monday on top of the golf world in particular and the sports world in general. Johnson spent Monday celebrating his 32nd birthday by adding yet another demon to a portfolio that features hard losses, bad decisions and poor shots at the wrong moment in time.
Forget the complaints, forget any claims that this was nothing less than a spectacular, special Open. The goal of the USGA in this competition is to identify the best player. When you consider that half the top 10 finishers are major champions, the USGA accomplished that goal.
Today, right now, Jordan Spieth IS the best player in the world. The rankings might tell us that Rory McIlroy is still No. 1, but with the first two majors to his credit, Spieth is today’s No. 1, Rory is yesterday’s No. 1. In this What Have You Done For Us Lately? world, Spieth has done the most.
It was sad that virtually no one got to see Adam Scott shoot the low round of the tournament, 64. Thank you Fox Sports.
That’s only a shot off the best rounds EVER SHOT in a major.
Maybe next time.
Anyway, back to the man of the day, the month, the year, Mr. Spieth.
He is the refreshing face American golf is begging for. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, he is a totally honest athlete and he takes time for the fans. He is the direct opposite of Tiger Woods, who turns 40 in December and has been reduced to the status of a tragic side show. Meet the Elephant Man aka Eldrick Woods.
Looking back on the four days, the amazing part of Spieth’s victory is he emerged victorious without his best stuff. He hit tee shots into trouble, he hit sloppy iron shots. Remember that one he fanned at the 71st hole that nearly cost him the title. The key word is nearly. He recovered like a 20-year veteran but anguished in the scoring trailer because the conclusion was totally out of his control.
Fate smiled on him and it takes a little of that to win majors. No one ever called Jack Nicklaus an unlucky guy.
Jordan won with his “B” game. But where he is different from the rest is his mind, his mental approach, his toughness, his decision making, his poise under pressure. He’s 21 with the mind of a 40-year-old Nicklaus. That’s where he buries the other players.
Even that great putting stroke of his failed him at times, something unseen during his Masters victory. He missed that three-footer at 17 and he actually had some three-putt greens. Say that again, Jordan Spieth had three-putt greens at Chambers Bay.
Spieth is not the kind of young man who looks over his shoulder at the past.
He has more mountains to climb and he’ll strap on his gear in 24 days when he stands on the first tee of the Old Course at St. Andrews to go after the venerable Open Championship at the home of golf.
Can he win three straight majors?
Do you really want to bet against him?
