Spieth cruises to eight-shot win at Kapalua

kapalua, hawaii» Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year and had no trouble winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday.

Staked to a five-shot lead, the 22-year-old Texan made two consecutive birdies around the turn at Kapalua to restore his margin, and he spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the views of surf and sun on Maui. The view from the top of golf is just as stunning at the moment, but not so much for those trying to catch him.

Spieth made an 8-foot birdie putt to reach his target, even though he didn’t need it. He closed with a 6-under-par 67 for an eight-shot victory over Patrick Reed. He finished at 30-under 262, joining Ernie Els as the only players in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole tournament at 30under or lower.

Els set his record of 31-under at Kapalua in 2003 with an eightshot victory.

“I felt like it was a short threeweek break and continue what we were doing last year,” said Spieth, who is coming off a sizzling fivewin season that included the Masters and U.S. Open titles. “That’s the way I’ll keep on thinking about it. It worked this week. All parts were firing.”

Stone first-time tour winner

B johannesburg» Brandon Stone won the South African Open for his first European Tour title, becoming the youngest player to win the tournament since it joined the tour schedule in 1997.

The 22-year-old South African closed with a 1-under 71 that included seven birdies but also six bogeys, and it was good enough for a two-shot win over countryman Christiaan Bezuidenhout (67).