Jordan Spieth Leads Talented New Generation of Golfers After 2015 Masters Win
Heading into the Masters, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth was on fire, winning the Valspar Championship before earning consecutive runner-up finishes at the Valero Texas Open and Shell Houston Open. He was quickly becoming one of the PGA Tour's most talked-about players, and as it turned out, the hype was real.
Spieth didn't just win the Masters—he dominated the Masters.
His brilliant eight-under 64 in Round 1 set the tone for the tournament, as Spieth knocked in nine birdies and had just one bogey to show for his efforts. He continued his torrid pace in Round 2, shooting a six-under 66 and keeping a blemish-free scorecard. For those of you counting at home, that's a grand total of 15 birdies and one bogey through 36 holes.
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After his 14-under set a new tournament 36-hole record, Spieth struggled slightly in Round 3. He continued his birdie onslaught, gaining another seven, but his day was marred by several mistakes that resulted in three bogeys and a double. Still, his two-under 70 was enough to set a new 54-hole Masters record.
With several of golf's biggest names just behind him on the leaderboard entering Sunday, Spieth was tested yet again. While there were some hiccups throughout his round, he remained steady and was able to bounce back from each. Another 70 secured his green jacket and tied Tiger Woods' 72-hole Masters record of 18 under par.
Here's a look at the recap of Spieth's record-setting Masters victory, via Amanda Balionis of PGATour.com:
Incredible—especially at just 21 years of age.
Spieth's victory is a breath of fresh air for the golfing world. Despite some resurgent efforts from Phil Mickelson and Woods at Augusta, the dwindling success of the "older generation" of tour pros appeared to be a concern for the sport. Who would step up to continue delighting fans and inspiring younger players?
Of course, there was always world No. 1 Rory McIlroy. The 25-year-old has already won the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship (twice), and his scintillating finish to the 2014 season propelled him to the top of golf's pecking order. However, he didn't appear to have any challengers.
Rickie Fowler appeared to be McIlroy's biggest competition down the final stretch last year, but the American's play has tapered off since—an inconsistency that has been all too familiar for some of the tour's younger players.
Luckily, Spieth is the epitome of consistency, winning twice to end the 2014 season and already notching two wins and two runner-up finishes in 2015. Not only was he consistent at Augusta, but he displayed a level of maturity and confidence rarely seen in a player of his age.
Here's what golf legend and fellow Texan Ben Crenshaw had to say about Spieth during a telephone interview with Melanie Hauser of PGATour.com: "I don't know what it is, but he just has this maturity. He's got an awareness of where's he going. He's got a plan."
Expect Spieth—now the world's No. 2 player—to stick around near the top of leaderboards for a long time to come.
Interestingly enough, Spieth wasn't the only young player to emerge from the Masters. While he was certainly deserving of the praise he received, fifth-place finisher Hideki Matsuyama finished the tournament with a brilliant 66 but didn't quite get the recognition he deserved.
At just 23 years of age, Matsuyama appears to have a bright future. He's already a star on the Japan Golf Tour, becoming the first rookie to ever win the money list, and among his career victories is a win in Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.
In his fourth Masters appearance, Matsuyama was steady through the first three rounds, opening with a 71 and following it up with a pair of 70s. He finally caught fire on Sunday, recording four birdies and one eagle en route to a blemish-free six-under 66. His patience on the course will continue to be an enormous asset as his career progresses.
According to a press conference with The Associated Press, via PGATour.com, Matsuyama already has his sights set on a green jacket, saying, "I would really like to become a Masters champion one day." He added, "I really played well this week, and I'm happy with the way I played and so I have no complaints."
With McIlroy, Spieth and Matsuyama seemingly poised for long-term success and 24-year-old Patrick Reed continuing to shine, a new generation of golfers has begun to emerge on the PGA Tour. They are an immensely talented group and will ensure the sport remains competitive and compelling for years to come.
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