US golfer Jordan Spieth chips on the 16th hole during Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2016, in Augusta, Georgia. PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON: Jordan Spieth exhibited his short-game wizardry with six back-nine birdies to claim the Colonial tournament on Sunday for his eighth career PGA Tour victory before his 23rd birthday, an impressive run that is one better than Tiger Woods managed at that age.
The emphatic win not only gave Spieth, who turns 23 on July 27, his first win in his home state after three second-place showings in Texas, but the performance came in his third start since his back-nine collapse at the Masters last month.
He carded a closing 65 at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth for a 17-under total of 263, good for a three-shot cushion over fellow American Harris English (66).
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“To come back in only our third tournament and close it out is really, really special,” said Spieth. “I’m already looking back, thinking this will be a very important day to get back on top and be in the winner’s circle. As a golfer and as a person I can always look back on this experience and say we were strong in what shouldn’t have been tough times, but were tough times.”
Only the late Horton Smith, with 14, recorded more wins than Spieth at 22 or younger.
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Spieth began the final round with a one-shot lead and had to withstand an early charge from English, who knocked in his 83-yard approach shot for eagle on the par-five opening hole.
Spieth, who also made lengthy par putts at eight and 14, became the first Texan to win the Colonial since Ben Crenshaw in 1990.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2016.
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