JACK: HE’LL BE GREATEST
JACK NICKLAUS believes Jordan Spieth can eclipse his record as golf’s greatest champion.
Legend Nicklaus was the only golfer to have won three of the game’s four majors by the age of 24 until Sunday, when Spieth added the Claret Jug to his 2015 haul of Masters and US Open.
Now 77-year-old Nicklaus – with 18 majors to his name – reckons Spieth is blazing a trail that is even more impressive than the one he enjoyed in the 1960s.
The Golden Bear said: “Much was said about the fact Jordan and I were able to win three legs of the Grand Slam before the age of 24.
“But if you look, he’s won 11 tournaments and I had won eight before 24.
“If you look at his victory total, his win and the way he won, Jordan has shown an amazing display of maturity for someone so young, and he has been doing that for a quite a while. Jordan’s victory was a great display of guts, determination and skill.”
Spieth was looking at another choke as he left the 13th hole four over for his round and one shot behind Matt Kuchar.
But an eagle and three birdies in his last five holes brought him back from the brink and prevented comparisons with his Masters flop in 2016, when he gave up a five-shot lead with seven holes to play.
Nicklaus (right) hailed Spieth’s amazing mental strength after his 30 minutes of madness on the 13th ended with a bogey after he took a drop from the practice range.
Nicklaus added: “Jordan semi had the wheels coming off on 13 with that tee shot. “It did take him a long time between the tee shot and the next shot, but he figured out what to do. “I don’t know if I would have figured out to go over to the driving range for that shot. That was an unbelievable decision and unbelievable five. “I believe Jordan’s bogey at the 13th hole was the key to his round. He made that bogey putt and then he turned it on. “It was as if he said, ‘Hey, I’ve let this thing get away from me. I’ve got to get back to work’. “Then he went boom, boom – and to follow up that bogey on 13 with great golf shots and great putts, and play the final five holes in five under par, I was just very happy for him.”