Differing outcomes in tale of two Green Jackets
IN case anyone had forgotten, Jordan Spieth’s win at Pebble Beach last Sunday was a reminder of what a special talent he is.
That was his ninth PGA Tour win, including two Majors, and all this by the age of 23. Only Tiger Woods had won that many events at such a young age.
I liked hearing that Spieth is anxious to get back to World No. 1. He’s fallen to sixth, but I’m sure he will move back up again quickly.
While we had been distracted in the first few weeks of 2017 by Tiger’s return from injury and the new young guns making hay on the PGA Tour, Spieth was quietly finding his form.
He finished third, third and ninth before hitting top gear at Pebble Beach in a most-impressive manner.
His 65 on Saturday gave him a sixshot lead and there were no dramas in the final round as he cruised to victory.
Spieth hit 16 out of 18 greens and did not have a bogey all afternoon. Nor did he have to rely on the short stick to get him out of trouble. That is ominous for all his rivals.
The last time he had such a big lead on the final day was at The Masters last year. And we all remember what happened at Amen Corner.
His swing buckled under pressure and he put two balls into the water at the par-three 12th.
You would never have thought he had already won two Majors and was defending Champion.
Spieth has been working hard with coach Cameron McCormick to eradicate those faults.
Last week, and victory in the Australian Open before Christmas, were good steps forward.
You can work on the range all you want, but it’s on the Sunday with a tournament at stake that you find out most about any changes you have made.
The Texan certainly showed he is heading in the right direction and he’ll look to maintain this form ahead of a return to Augusta.
The course suits him perfectly and he’ll be desperate for the chance of redemption after his blow-out last year.
While Spieth was winning in California, his Masters conqueror Danny Willett let slip a good chance of victory in Malaysia.
It was disappointing that Danny couldn’t turn a three-stroke lead heading into the final round into his first win since that incredible April afternoon.
It was not the sort of course where a par round would do, and his one-over 73 was never going to be enough to see it through.
There remains that focus on him that has been there ever since The Masters. He’s still not quite come to terms with his new status.
The ability is not in doubt. When the heat was on at Augusta, he hit the shots under pressure and took his chance.
But somehow he needs to forget about living up to the tag of The Masters Champion and let his instincts take over.
He wouldn’t swap what happened last April for anything. But he is still suffering a reaction to those amazing turn of events.