Dallas native goes wire-to wire in first appearance in Cromwell

CROMWELL » Jordan Spieth became the third wire-to-wire winner in the 65-year history of the Travelers Championship on Sunday, but it was accomplished with probably the greatest shot in the history of the tournament.

Jordan Spieth holed out a 61foot bunker shot on the 18th hole, the first hole of a suddendeath playoff for birdie. Then he had to withstand Daniel Berger coming close on making a putt from off the green before earning the 2017 Travelers Championship.

“It took a little right bounce and cut spin and it rolled up the hole. I jumped up and saw it coming right down on the pin. And I went nuts,” Spieth said. “That was fun. I don’t know how many or if I’ll ever have a moment equivalent to that again. Something like that to win a tournament. But, yeah, that was very memorable, and I certainly soaked it in.”

Spieth, 23, now has 10 PGA Tour events after winning in Cromwell in his first try. He also became the first wire-to-wire winner on the TPC layout. Both Gene Littler (1959) and Tim Morris (1982) won at Wethersfield Country Club.

As soon as he holed the shot, Spieth flung his sand wedge, ran out of the bunker toward his caddie, Michael Greller,

and both leaped in the air for a chest-bump and the crowd surrounding the 18th hole went bananas.

“I was actually a little surprised by jubilation from Michael. I looked over, I think he had kind of turned around and like screamed,” Spieth recalled. “Normally he’d just kind of have his hands up or something, right? He’s more reserved. He was screaming and it made me want to scream louder and then he jumped. And fortunately we didn’t like high five jump. We both went kind of for the little side bump. But it was cool.

“I mean, the ground was shaking it was so loud. What an amphitheater. What a tremendous last four holes, finishing holes, where you can get the crowd super involved with an amphitheater setting. I mean, if I were a fan, I would pick this tournament.”

Travelers tournament director Nathan Grube watched the 18th hole dramatics in regulation and the playoff greenside. He said he “got goose bumps and chills” and even screamed when Spieth’s shot went in.

“It’s one of most surreal experiences I’ve ever been a part of,” said Grube, who just completed his 13th year as tournament director. “You can’t scipt live sports. It unfolds in front of you. I’ve never seen 18 that full and I’ve never seen (hole) 1 that crowded when Jordan teed off today. The left side and right side (were packed) all the way down.”

The last time a player on tour won a tournament by holing a shot from off the green was, ironically enough, Fairfield native J.J. Henry at the 2015 Barracuda Championship.

In 1989, Paul Azinger chipped in for birdie on 18 to win by a shot. In 1998, Olin Browne chipped in for birdie to win a sudden-death playoff.

Spieth is the only one to hole out a bunker shot to win in what was the 23rd playoff in tournament history.

Berger, who led going into last year’s final round before tying for fifth place, began Sunday’s action in third place and finally tied Spieth when he birdied 15 and Spieth three-putted 14 for bogey.