Jordan Spieth becomes the youngest ever to win both the Masters and the U.S. Open in a career. Does he have what it takes to win at St. Andrews?
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It’s hard to believe he’s only 21 years old. With the confidence of a young Tiger Woods, but the humility of an Arnold Palmer—Jordan Spieth seems to be America’s next greatest champion. I know I’m impressed.
Having played Chambers Bay twice in the summer of 2012, I have never been more excited to watch a golf tournament than this year’s U.S. Open. The course has teeth unlike any other U.S. Open course ever has, maybe it’s not the most difficult, but it’s certainly got the most character. The entire purpose of the U.S. Open is to be the toughest test in golf. And while the scores may not reflect the toughest scoring conditions ever in a U.S. Open, I think there are few golfers who played this week that would argue as it being the toughest test of the year, most definitely between the ears.
Yet with all of the controversy, we’re left with the youngest champion to win the first two majors of the year. A guy who’s turned heads since his first appearance on tour at the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship as a 15-year old kid making the cut.
Jordan Spieth is something special.
In 2013 he had not status on the PGA Tour, he was playing from sponsor exemption to sponsor exemption. Coming to the 2013 John Deere Classic he had several top-10s in a row, but top-10s aren’t wins in the eyes of the tour. Spieth gutted out a win as a rookie with no status to claim full-time status in dramatic fashion, and he hasn’t looked back since.
That year he went on to make the tour championship and his career has been more successful than anyone imagined thus far.
There is a bit of sadness to trail along with this victory of Spieth’s. Dustin Johnson had the tournament in his hands. It was his to lose, and sadly, lose he did. With a 14-foot eagle putt looming on the 18th green, Johnson could have won the tournament outight. He could have sent the tournament to an 18-hole playoff with a 4-foot birdie putt that would be a gimme on any other course.
He three-putted from 14-feet to lose the tournament, and it’s sad that I can’t truly say Spieth won it. He did, obvoiusly. Jordan played brilliantly for four straight days and save for his double bogey on 17, it was equally his tournament as it was Dustin Johnson’s.
My heart goes out to DJ. I remember watching him grind out for a major win in 2010 and come up short twice. Once because he shot 82 in the final round, and once because he grounded his club before hitting a spectacular shot out of a “fairway bunker” on 18 at Whistling Straits. Here are the videos to refresh your memory.
2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach
2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits
Congratulaions to Jordan Spieth. It was a gutsy performance and you can be sure I’ll be watching every second of coverage at St. Andrews this year. Here’s to another shot at making history!