Jordan Spieth routs field in Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Jordan
Spieth and Tiger Woods have become inseparable, joined at the clip at
which each took over the golf world at the outset of their careers.
Spieth
won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday in a dominant fashion
that once more evoked memories of Tiger in his youth. It was Spieth’s
seventh US PGA Tour victory, two of which have been majors, several months
before his 23rd birthday. At a similar age, Woods had seven victories,
one of them a major.
The
comparisons are irresistible, a way of charting Spieth’s progress
against the incomparable standard set by Woods. They’re inevitable,
perhaps, but are they prudent?
Woods,
at the same stage, was on the cusp of a dominant decade that seemingly
rendered his eclipsing Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors a formality. A
tough act to follow.
A
more appropriate question: Wouldn’t it be better simply to enjoy Spieth
for what he is, fresh air in an often fetid sporting world and a reason to look forward to
watching how the story unfolds in a sport too frequently capable of
curing insomnia?
Spieth,
like Woods (again, the comparisons), has a way of retaining our
interest even when the outcome is in doubt. This one was over Saturday,
when Spieth nearly made an albatross on the 18th hole, settled for an
easy eagle, and opened a five-stroke lead.
NBC’s
Peter Jacobsen noted that Spieth has taken on an aura reminiscent of
Tiger. “I think the great players have always created their own
atmosphere,” he said.
“They create their own stage. Go back to Trevino,
go back to Nicklaus, go back to Hogan and certainly Tiger Woods. Jordan
Spieth does that. He does it with a smile and he does it with a lot of
enthusiasm and a lot of excitement. He creates it and I think the other
players feel it.”
The
final round of the Tournament of Champions was largely devoid of drama
and became a rout when he birdied 15, 16 18 to to win by eight strokes.
Yet there is appeal watching the best player in the world in dominant
form, setting a tone for the year ahead.
Let
history be the guide here. There were any number of Bear Apparents, the
next Nicklaus. Ultimately there was only one Bear. There will never be
another Tiger, either.
“I
don’t think there’s any reason to compare," Spieth said after the
tournament. "It’s awfully early. We’re very excited about where we’re at
and the start to our career as a team. What Tiger’s done, I can’t ever
imagine it done again."
Their
paths don’t cross much these days, but they do parallel, and that’s
where it ends with Spieth and Woods. Spieth isn’t rewriting Tiger’s
story, he’s writing his own. Let’s see how it plays out.
Padraig Harrington achieved his highest finish for some tme - T6 on 275.
Russell Knox finished eight under par but did not have a good tournament in relation to the leaders. He finished 27th in the field of 32 players with a total of 284
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 292 (4x73)
262 Jordan Spieth 66 64 65 67
270 Patrick Reed 65 69 67 69
271 Brandt Snedeker 67 72 65 67, Brooks Koepka 69 68 63 71
272 Rickie Fowler 69 67 69 67
SELECTED TOTALS
275 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70 68 70 67 (T6)
284 Russell Knox (Scotland) 71 72 69 73 (27th)
Field of 32 players
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Padraig Harrington achieved his highest finish for some tme - T6 on 275.
Russell Knox finished eight under par but did not have a good tournament in relation to the leaders. He finished 27th in the field of 32 players with a total of 284
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 292 (4x73)
262 Jordan Spieth 66 64 65 67
270 Patrick Reed 65 69 67 69
271 Brandt Snedeker 67 72 65 67, Brooks Koepka 69 68 63 71
272 Rickie Fowler 69 67 69 67
SELECTED TOTALS
275 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70 68 70 67 (T6)
284 Russell Knox (Scotland) 71 72 69 73 (27th)
Field of 32 players
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
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