Spieth nearly makes more history
AUGUSTA, Ga. — While the green jacket went to Patrick Reed, thanks to his dominance the first three days, the final round yesterday belonged to Jordan Spieth.
Isn’t that always the case one way or another?
Spieth, who won here in 2015 when he tied Tiger Woods’ tournament record at 18-under par, who lost here in 2016 when he put two balls in the water at the par-3 12th hole, came from 9 shots back to tie Reed with two holes to play yesterday. Had he pulled it off, it would have broken the record 8-stroke comebacks set in entirely different circumstances by Jack Burke in 1956 and Gary Player in 1978.
But after nine magical birdies, Spieth caught the trees with his drive at 18, leaving himself more than 350 yards to the green. He made his only bogey of the day for a final-round 64. He finished third at 13-under par, 2 behind Reed and 1 behind Rickie Fowler for his fourth top-three finish in five trips to a course where Spieth seems so determined to rewrite history. All of its history. “I certainly would have signed up for (a 64) if you would have asked me at the beginning of the round,” Spieth said. “I almost pulled off the impossible.”
After shooting a 1-under 71 Saturday, Spieth said, “I felt like I played a 4- or 5-under round, something to stay in the tournament.” The implication? He wasn’t still in the mix.
Along with playing partner and close friend Justin Thomas, Spieth said the pair’s goal yesterday was to “try to shoot 7- or 8-under.”
Thomas, the No. 2 player in the world, shot 1-over. Spieth provided the 8-under.
“After I birdied 5, I realized I was 3-under on the holes that had been hurting me,” Spieth said. “Then it was time to just stay patient, let the golf course give me what I know it can give on a Sunday. I know the pin placements.”
Spieth kept applying the pressure with birdies at 8 and 9. Suddenly Reed’s lead had shrunk from 9 to 3, and there was half a round to go.
His final birdie at 16 got Spieth to 14-under. The course record for a final round was his if he could par the final two holes. He had caught the leader, but Reed would quickly roll in a birdie at 14 to get to 15-under where he would remain for the final four holes to secure the title.
Reed, a scoreboard watcher, knew all about Spieth’s charge.
“It was kind of nervewracking,” he said. “I was glad he ran out of holes.”
Spieth did the kind of stuff that few have ever done around here.
“I mean there’s a reason he’s Jordan Spieth and he’s done all the great things he’s done,” said Thomas, who watched it up close yesterday. “It’s not like it was the 100th-ranked player in the world doing it.
“It was a three-time major champion, someone who’s won here before, someone who is a hell off player and done some great things and will continue to. So it definitely didn’t surprise me.”