Jordan Spieth sent an emphatic message to the rest of the PGA Tour on Sunday.
He’s back and he’s just as good, just as motivated and just as prepared to win as he was in 2015.
He proved it all week at the Tournament of Champions and over the final 18 holes at Kapalua, he blew away the competition with a 67 that got him to 30-under par. It was the second lowest 72-hole round on the PGA Tour, only bested by the 31-under that Ernie Els shot at this same event.
“Very satisfied,” said Spieth after scoring an eight-shot victory margin. “Got here early, felt comfortable all week. All parts of the game were firing.”
It was Spieth’s seventh PGA Tour victory, matching Tiger Woods for getting there before the age of 23.
Spieth has also become a solid closer. He has closed the deal in his last five events where he held the 54-hole lead.
As for the comparison to Tiger Woods, Spieth shrugged that off. “I’m nowhere near (Woods). There’s no reason to compare yet. But it’s nice to be in that company.”
Spieth registered this win in the same manner he earned five victories in 2015. He prepared better, played better and putted better than the rest of the competition.
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed started the round closest to him and at one point, Reed got within three shots. “He’s gonna make birdies, he’s not gonna shoot over par,” Reed said of the tough task involved in chasing Spieth.
Spieth may have given his competitors some false hope when he bogeyed the eight hole and was only one-under for the day at that point. But much as he did last season, he bounced back with birdies at the ninth and 10th to set the stage for his runaway win. He was three-under over the last four holes and drained a nine-footer for birdie at the 72nd hole to get to 30-under.
Reed defended his title well and finished solo second at 22-under but simply didn’t make enough putts to pressure Spieth.
Koepka and Brandt Snedeker tied for third at 21-under.
But this day was all about Spieth and the message he sent.
He’s back and he’s ready to roll.
