He’s back, finally, at last, some 44 months since his last victory but Jordan Spieth is a winner again after a determined and gritty performance Sunday at the Valero Texas Open.
Spieth put the golf world on notice earlier this season at the Phoenix Open when he shot a Saturday 61 but failed to close the deal the Sunday after. On Sunday in San Antonio, he looked like the ultimate closer.
Spieth got off to a great start early with four front nine birdies, making putts like he did when he won three major championships. He then dug in his heels on the back nine and stood tough against a challenge by veteran Charley Hoffman.
It became a two-man battle over the final six holes. Spieth had a two-shot lead over Hoffman at the turn. At the 12th, Spieth made birdie to up his lead to three but Hoffman wouldn’t go away.
Hoffman cut Spieth’s lead to a single shot at the 16th to create more drama. But at the short par four 17th, Spieth hit a great wedge shot to four-feet and upped his lead back to two when Hoffman failed to make birdie. All it took was a par five at the 18th for Spieth to pick up his 12th Tour victory and end his dismal slump.
“A monumental win,” said Spieth as he finished off with a six-under par 66 and an 18-under par total at TPC San Antonio, two better than Hoffman, who also closed with a 66 and put the heat on Spieth all afternoon.
Spieth looked calm all day as he tried to win for the first time since his victory in the 2017 Open Championship. “I actually felt like I wanted to come out, smile and have some fun. There was a lightness to how I felt,” Spieth said, describing his mental state on his way to the win. “I had some lightness to me. It’s been a long road. I never doubted in myself to be able to get back to where I wanted to go. But when you lose confidence, a lot of tims it’s hard to see the positives going forward. This is a monumental win for me — I’ve thought about it for a long time.”
Spieth came out firing on all cylinders. He birdied the par five second from seven feet, was inside three feet for birdie at three, holed another from 12-feet at the sixth then another from six feet at the eighth. His only bogey of the round came at the par four fourth where he sailed his tee shot wide right into trouble. He punched back into the fairway, was on in three but couldn’t save par. On the final nine, he scrambled like he used to when he was in trouble, made clutch putts and looked like the Jordan Spieth who became number one in the world at age 22.
Matt Wallace was the third member of the final group but struggled to find any birdies. He did birdie the final two holes to close with 70 and took solo third at 14-under par.
Jon Rahm Will Play In The Masters After Birth Of Baby Boy:
Jon Rahm will tee it up at Augusta National this week after wife Kelley gave birth to the couple’s first child on Saturday.
Rahm was all smiles as he and Kelley welcomed Kepa Cahill Rahm to their family.
Rahm reported that “everyone is going great” and that Saturday was “without a doubt the greatest day of my life!”
The world’s No. 3 had earlier said he would not hesitate to miss The Masters had the big moment come this week. “I would never miss the birth of my firstborn in a million years,” he said.
No worries about that. Rahm will play and is among the pre-tournament favorites.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
He’s baaaaack….
Kinda feel for Charlie. He showed heart.
But for me the most interesting story here is I never realized Wallace is such a fool with his temper.
Right off the bat wallace was moaning about fans; his game; this and that. He kinda kept it together for third but what a waste.
Meanwhile Jordans last piece of the puzzle was being at his chillest.
And we k is Charlie knows how to keep it pro.
I’m all about some fire but not like your William Wallace going to war.
As mr Jones said players learn more Ls …So Will Wallace Learn from Jordan and Charlie?
The lesson is pretty Obvio.
Tom Edrington
Give Wallace credit for hanging in there, finishing birdie birdie for solo third, which pays quite well, just ask Tony Finau