Texan Jordan Spieth wins one of wildest British Opens ever
Wire-to-wire winner endures wild finish for 3rd career major
SOUTHPORT, England — Jordan Spieth is the British Open champion, just like expected. Not like anyone could have imagined. On the verge of another meltdown in a major, so wild off the tee that he played one shot from the driving range at Royal Birkdale and lost the lead for the first time all weekend, Spieth bounced back with a collection of clutch shots, delivering a rally that ranks among the best.
A near ace. A 50-foot eagle putt . A 30-foot birdie putt.
Spieth played the final five holes in 5 under and closed with a 1-under 69 for a three-shot win over Matt Kuchar, giving him the third leg of the career Grand Slam and a chance to be the youngest to win them all next month at the PGA Championship.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Spieth said, gazing at his name on the silver claret jug. “Absolutely a dream come true.”
For so much of Sunday, it felt like a recurring nightmare.
Just 15 months ago, Spieth lost a five-shot lead on the back nine at the Masters, coming undone with a quadruple-bogey 7 on the 12th hole.
It was more of a slow bleed at Royal Birkdale, with three bogeys on the opening four holes and four putts inside eight feet that he missed on the front nine to fall into a tie with Kuchar.
However, Spieth recovered and roared to the win by making a four-footer for birdie on No. 14 before seizing control with a 50-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole.
Kuchar made birdie from the bunker on No. 15 to stay one behind, but Spieth poured in a 30-foot birdie at the 16th and a sevenfoot birdie on No. 17 to keep that two-shot lead going to the 18th. Spieth held on to win just four days before his 24th birthday.