Jordan Spieth Solidifies Status as Golf's Next Big Star After Masters Triumph

Sometimes hype isn't manufactured but organic and something noteworthy, which seems to be the case with Jordan Spieth after his historic run at the 2015 Masters.

Spieth, just 21 years old, went wire-to-wire against the game's best, holding off Phil Mickelson and a host of others while setting course records.

The wildest part? It was easy to see coming from golf's next big thing.

Forget Spieth's finishing tied for second in his Augusta debut last year. Even lovers of conspiracy theories can write the performance off as luck.

This season, though? Not so much.

Spieth recorded seven top-10 finishes dating back to last December. In the three events before Augusta, he won the Valspar Championship and came in second at the Valero Texas Open and Shell Houston Open.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

From a stats standpoint, he ranked fifth in strokes gained tee-to-green (1.548), fourth in strokes gained putting (.801), second in total strokes gained (2.349), second in birdie average (4.61) and, of course, first in scoring average (69.264), per PGATour.com.

So no, surprise shouldn't have been the emotion when he posted an eight-under 64 in Round 1 with nine birdies. Or in Round 2, when he shot a six-under 66, setting a record.

He slowed, as most predicted, but not much, shooting a two-under 70 for the 54-hole Masters record. To top it off, as if anyone expected any different then, he counteracted four bogeys Sunday with another six birdies to shoot another 70 and tie Tiger Woods' 72-hole Masters record of 18 under.

Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times adds further detail:

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Cool is one word for it. Dominant is another. Spieth is the first golfer to lead this tournament from start to finish in 39 years. He is only the second golfer in the Masters' 79-year history to lead by as many as three strokes after the first round and never allow anyone to get any closer.

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Will Spieth come back down to Earth? Of course, but his historic showing and recent form dating back four months and change is worth a stop and appreciation.

Spieth did just that Monday morning:

The Masters will prove to be Spieth's get-over-the-hump moment.

Now he's barreling downhill at full speed. Gone are the early days of his career in which he was the leader who would self-destruct under the pressure. Just last year, after his tie at Augusta, he finished tied for 17th at the U.S. Open, tied for 36th at the Open Championship and missed the cut at the PGA Championship.

In a time when the sport continues to search for the proverbial "next Tiger Woods," Spieth seems to have as great a claim as Rory McIlroy. On a day when McIlroy gunned for a career Grand Slam, it was Spieth stealing the spotlight while McIlroy needed a furious rally just to avoid the cut line thanks to a pair of 71s to start the tournament.

Granted, McIlroy shot a Sunday 66 to land at 12 under and fourth place, but things are all of a sudden crowded at the top in the next-face-of-golf race. McIlroy offered praise for his budding competition, per PGA Tour on Twitter:

There are others in the conversation, yes. Patrick Reed is 24 years old. Hideki Matsuyama continues to fly under the radar (he finished one stroke behind McIlroy). When Rickie Fowler is on, he can compete with the best of the best.

While there's always a chance Spieth's performance turns out to be a flash in the pan, it's a historic one for the ages. It's a small chance, too, considering his recent form isn't exclusive to just one tournament, as the numbers and his season show. 

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Observers are right to want to claim new rivalries and top stars. Golf needs it the same way it needed the shot in the arm to the sport's popularity Woods provided so many years ago.

There's no way to better start the process over than with what Spieth just accomplished, going wire-to-wire at Augusta, of all places. So young, Spieth doesn't need crowned the next big thing, but he's earned the talk.

At the least, Spieth's dominance over legends of the "old tour" and new generation alike creates a tidal wave of buzz around the sport and makes the rest of this season must-see action.

If Spieth's current form is any sign, he's just getting started.

Stats and info courtesy of PGATour.com unless otherwise specified.