So Jordan Spieth didn’t self-destruct on Sunday. With his second straight 70, Spieth tied Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters scoring record with an -18, 270. Every time it seemed competitors Justin Rose or Phil Mickelson got within 3 or 4, it seemed Spieth would always respond. At 21 years and about 8 1/2 months, Spieth became the second-youngest winner in Masters history. Last year, Spieth was tied with Bubba Watson for the lead on the eighth hole on Sunday; he would lose his share of the lead after a bogey on the ninth hole. Using those experiences, Spieth ran away with this year’s tournament by four strokes.
With this win, Spieth catapults himself to second in the world. Number 1 in the world is Rory McIlroy, and this could become one of the great rivalries in golf. Who wouldn’t love to see a scenario like the 1977 British Open at Turnberry where Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson sped away from the field and dueled until the final hole? Watson carried a one-shot lead into the final hole. Both birdied, and Watson walked away with a Claret Jug. Watson finished at -12, while Nicklaus was -11. The next lowest competitor was Hubert Green; he was -1. Who wouldn’t love to see Rory and Jordan lap the field and duel for major titles in the future? If Spieth can avoid the Bubba Watson distinction of not having the same amount of success at other courses as he does at Augusta, he and McIlroy will be the world’s two best golfers for a long, long time. Spieth’s all-around game seems to suggest that he can be that kind of golfer, and can compete at many different courses. He doesn’t have any real flaws in his game, and he seemed to have complete control of his short game, and, particularly, his putting. He doesn’t kill his drives, but his short game is so strong that that doesn’t really matter.
In conclusion, the game of golf is in really good hands, and specifically in the four hands of Spieth and McIlroy. Get ready to enjoy golf’s next great rivalry, as these two continue to develop and flourish as they mature throughout their careers.