Jordan Spieth's Historic Masters Victory Dominates Social Media

The 79th edition of the Masters featured Tiger Woods' return, Phil Mickelson's resurgence, Justin Rose's resilience and Rory McIlroy's roaring comeback, but every storyline this weekend played as no more than a minor subplot to Jordan Spieth’s historic, victorious march through Augusta National.

By the time the 21-year-old Texan had finished ripping through the opening round's front nine at four-under, the social media world had already begun its gushing, with just a bit of hyperbolizing thrown in for good measure.

In a Masters field filled with 19 former winners and every big name in the game, Spieth's transcendent play overshadowed all—even the final farewell to two-time champion Ben Crenshaw, who earlier in the week compared the young Texan to a certain Wild West gunslinger.

"I love the way he looks at you," Crenshaw told Bill Nichols of The Dallas Morning News. "The first time I met him, he just had this certain look about him that was like Wyatt Earp. He is just as nice as you can be, but there is competitive fire in there."

A fellow Texan, the 63-year-old Crenshaw's words look prophetic in retrospect.

With each hole—and each birdie—Spieth's fledgling legend seemed to grow. One by one, shot by shot, records kept falling before his Under-Armour-clad feet. The world simply couldn't help but be overtaken by Spieth's momentum.

Spieth's opening-round eight-under 64 was just one shot off the Masters tournament record of 63 and one off the lowest score in major championship history. The 2014 runner-up could have easily perished under the enormity of the moment, but with each passing day, he grew stronger, his stoic demeanor and focus rarely allowing for any mental lapses.

During his annihilation of Augusta, Spieth set the record for best 36-hole (-14) and 54-hole (-16) scores in Masters history, while his 72-hole score (-18) matched a 21-year-old Tiger Woods' record-setting weekend at the 1997 Masters.

But Spieth reached heights that even Tiger never touched by becoming the first man in Masters history to hit 19-under. The second-youngest member (just months behind Tiger) of golf's most prestigious club also broke Phil Mickleson's record for most birdies at one Masters with 28.

Spieth's performance was so impressive and downright dominant that athletes from around the world couldn't help but acknowledge the golf world's newest hero. Even movie stars and fictional characters saw fit to get in on the Spieth love-fest.

And, of course, with there being plenty of talk about how Spieth would have been a senior at the University of Texas had he not turned pro early, the opportunities for "he got his Masters anyway" jokes were fully taken advantage of.

Whether it was college-degree jokes, fawning or just pure adulation, Spieth completely dominated the social media landscape.

Back in 1997, following Tiger's unprecedented obliteration of Augusta National, the 24-hour, 365-day endless media cycle didn't exist as we know it now. Tiger and the rest of the world had time to reflect on, and bask in, the greatness of that performance.

Spieth will be afforded no such luxury—not in 2015.

Already, the "rivalry" between 25-year-old Rory McIlroy and Spieth has taken over headlines, talk radio and Internet message boards.

For his part, and to the delight of pundit and fan alike, the golf world's new No. 2 is embracing the competition, rather than skirting around the issue.

"He's got four majors, something I can only dream about," Spieth said of McIlroy to BBC Sport. "I look forward to getting in the heat of the moment with him a few more times in the near future."

Spieth captured the hearts of many and the respect of the entire golf universe this weekend with his humble disposition and unflappable play, but, as Crenshaw himself noted, that doesn't mean he lacks fire.

"The ultimate goal, that I've mentioned each week, is to become the No. 1 player in the world," Spieth told CBS Sports' Kyle Porter. "I'm not quite there yet."

"I want two green jackets like Bubba [Watson]."

Golf's newest star will have to wait another year for his second jacket, but a second major might be awaiting him at the U.S. Open (June 18-21) just over two months from now.

Spieth's newly anointed rival and 2011 champion will enter the U.S. Open as the odds-on favorite, though golf's newest gunslinger doesn't lag too far behind.

A lot can happen between now and June 18 to change all that, but one thing's for sure: Jordan Spieth is golf's newest star, and, apparently, its newest heartthrob.

"

I need Jordan Spieth to break up with his girlfriend and marry me

— Audrey Estelle (@aud_estelle) April 12, 2015"