Master Spieth claims first green jacket
Were the organisers of The US Masters in need of a marketing strapline – and they are not – but if they were they could do a lot worse than that employed by Ronseal – “Does exactly what it says on the tin.” By which I mean “the Masters only begins on the back nine Sunday”. Except this year it never really happened. Like a Yellowstone Park hot spring it bubbled, it simmered but it never quite exploded into life. And the reason for that was the brilliance of a 21 year old Texan named Jordan Spieth, playing with all the exuberance of youth but with a head of a seasoned campaigner.
It is nearly twenty years since a young Eldrick Woods won his first US Masters, a victory which would propel him to greatness. His 1997 winning score of 18 under par had held firm until yesterday when Jordan Spieth equalled that tally. We thought what Woods achieved was remarkable, but had not Spieth taken five at the 18th he would have set a new record. Reflecting the sense of awe at his achievement Paul Casey, in a post round interview commented “Golf pro’s are not easily impressed but even we have to admit that this lad is something special”.
For me the defining moment of Spieth’s final round came at the par four 11th. Playing partner Justin Rose had clawed his way back to within three shots of the Texan and playing first Rose ripped his drive down the centre of the fairway. For perhaps the first time in the round young Spieth felt the pressure, a blocked drive into trees on the right confirming that assertion. Television can be an unreliable guide when showing distance and elevation, but in this instance it clearly showed that between Spieth and the green were three tall trees with nary a gap between them. It looked for all the world that a dropped shot was the best he could hope for. But as we would subsequently learn, Jordan Spieth is nothing if not brave. After much deliberation he committed to his shot, firing his ball low and hard through the narrowest of gaps. Not only did it find the fairway but more importantly he placed it just short of the putting surface allowing for a full pitch shot up the length of the green. This he did with consummate brilliance, getting the ball to within three feet and holing the putt. From potential disaster came triumph for in saving par he retained his three shot cushion. From that point in, though his journey over the remaining six holes was something of a rollercoaster, every dropped shot was immediately retrieved. Thus did he retain his three shot lead arriving at the 18th with four shots to spare and finally winning by that margin. It was calm, brave and brilliant and with his wholesome personality it would appear that America has at last found “the” golfer that it so dearly craves.
As for Rory – irrational expectations of him claiming the Grand Slam (adding the US Masters to his US Open, British Open and US PGA titles) was an unfair burden. It thus said much that he played quality golf, ending his week with a flawless final round of 67. But for a series of missed putts he could well have found himself in serious contention and he will be back.
I will end hesitantly having no wish hand young Spieth “the coming man” moniker. I did so last year following Martyn Kaymer’s US Open victory. Kaymer hasn’t won since and at this year’s Masters, missed the cut. So I will temper any predictions other than to say that Jordan Spieth is certainly a talent and, more importantly, a great advert for the game.
© Mark Brennand