Jordan Spieth won The Masters by four shots from Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose. The 21-year-old equalled Tiger Wood’s 72-hole record score of 18-under-par.
Jordan Spieth won The Masters by four shots from Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose. The 21-year-old equalled Tiger Wood’s 72-hole record score of 18-under-par.
Spieth made a record 28 birdies during the week and is the first player since Raymond Floyd in 1976 to lead the event from pillar to post. He is the second youngest winner of the tournament, after Tiger Woods in 1997 and his first Major title has moved him to second on the Official World Golf Ranking.
"I thought it might be easier today than yesterday but it wasn't. I did not sleep well last night. With two Major Champions right behind me I could not let up,” he said. "It's the most incredible week of my life. This is as great as it gets in our sport. It's a dream come true for me. I saw my friends and family behind the green and knew it was a done deal. It didn’t kick in there and still hasn’t. I’m a little bit in shock.”
England’s Justin Rose twice got within three shots of Spieth on the front nine. But at the turn the youngster’s lead had been extended to five. A fabulous birdie at the 10th then gave Spieth a six-shot advantage over Rose and Mickelson.
It was the three-time champion who was next to threaten. Spieth three-putted the 12th for bogey and Mickelson birdied the 13th to reduce the deficit to four strokes.
Spieth struck back with a birdie of his own at the par-5 13th before both Rose and Mickelson moved to 14-under (within four again.) Mickelson did so by holing a bunker shot for an eagle at the 15th.
But Spieth held steady and a birdie at the 15th saw him regain a five-shot advantage, and become the first player ever to reach 19-under-par at Augusta. Although he dropped a shot at the last, he won with something to spare.
Rose, who played with Spieth in the final round, was full of praise for his young adversary.
"Phenomenal, what a month of golf he's had. Awesome composure; every time I thought there was a chink in the armour he would come out and hole an eight foot putt."
World Number 1 Rory McIlroy failed in his bid to complete the “Career Grand Slam,” but a final round of 66 lifted him into fourth place on his own.
Playing with Rory, Tiger Woods ended the week in a tie for 17th place. He held it together remarkably well after injuring himself on the 9th hole, striking a tree root in the pine straw while playing his second shot.
U.S Masters Final Results Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia April 9-12, purse $10,000,000, par 72
1 Jordan Spieth (USA) 64 66 70 70 270 $1,800,000 T2 Phil Mickelson (USA) 70 68 67 69 274 $880,000 T2 Justin Rose (Eng) 67 70 67 70 274 $880,000 4 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 71 68 66 276 $480,000 5 Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 71 70 70 66 277 $400,000 T6 Paul Casey (Eng) 69 68 74 68 279 $335,000 T6 Dustin Johnson (USA) 70 67 73 69 279 $335,000 T6 Ian Poulter (Eng) 73 72 67 67 279 $335,000 T9 Charley Hoffman (USA) 67 68 71 74 280 $270,000 T9 Zach Johnson (USA) 72 72 68 68 280 $270,000 T9 Hunter Mahan (USA) 75 70 68 67 280 $270,000
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
