Jordan Spieth Pieces Improbable Finish to Capture The Open Championship
Photo: Golf Digest
Just think, it all started with the unthinkable bogey save at 13, at the end of that, Jordan Speith of course. One of the most entertaining rounds of golf EVER came Sunday at Royal Birkdale, ask anyone.
Heading into the Final Round of The Open championship on Sunday, it was all between two legends, Matt Kuchar, and two time major champion Jordan Spieth. And it came down to the end, with the spotlight on 2-time major champion Jordan Speith.
The start for Jordan was a little rocky, totaling four bogeys on the front nine. Jordan would end up shooting a 37 on the front nine, then the improbable finish came.
Now in the past we have Jordan have some bad moments on Sunday of a major championship, but Jordan was here to prove them wrong. "Drank some wine out of this when Zach Johnson won it," he said, per Jason Sobel of ESPN.com. "People told me that was bad luck. I started to believe them."
But when did the bad luck start? It all came at the par 4, 13th. After the 12th green, Jordan started playing mind games and he got lost and you could tell when he got to the 13 tee something was up. Spieth sprayed his tee shot left, almost 100 yards, which forced him to take an unplayable lie. Jordan went so far back in his line he was on the practice range, it takes a good golf brain to even know he could do that and open up the shot. All the commentators kept saying was “Just go back to the tee Jordan”. But what do you know, Jordan fires a driving iron to the left side of the green. But that wasn’t the shot that really kept Jordan in it. The next shot was. With a direct downhill lie, Jordan played a difficult pitch off a hump to give himself a tremendous bogey putt save. The hole took 30 minutes (Longest in Major History), but there was no ending there.
From there, pedal to the medal for Jordan Spieth he got revved up and there was no stopping him. He would finish birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie and the championship…
There was nothing Kuchar could do, he did everything he could have in order to put himself in a place to win. He was tied with Spieth for the lead on Thursday after shooting 65 and nearly went shot-for-shot with the young champion on Saturday and Sunday until the final five holes. The major win may come soon, but it wasn't going be on Sunday.
Spieth broke history on Sunday at the age of 23. He joined Tiger (05) and Rory (14) as only players to go wire-to-wire at The Open in the last four decades. He also joined a LEGEND in Jack Nicklaus to win three different majors before the age of 24.
Jordan Spieth has the chance to go for the career grand slam at the PGA Championship next month. If he does that, not only would he be the youngest to ever accomplish that, but the sixth golfer in history.
Add the trophy to the trophy case home in Texas, Jordan. This makes 3 major titles in his career, at the age of 23, to a career that thus far has surprised all.
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By Jake Martino
