Jordan Spieth went on Twitter in the final hour of 2015 to say, “Would rather this year not end.” Maybe it never did.
Coming off a blockbuster year including the Masters, US Open, five victories and the FedEx Cup, Spieth delivered a statement on Sunday in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions by crushing the winners-only field at Kapalua for an eight-shot victory.
“I felt like it was a short three-week break and continue what we were doing last year,” he said. “That’s the way I’ll keep on thinking about it. It worked well this week. All parts were firing.”
He made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 6-under 67 and a spot in the PGA Tour record book with Ernie Els. They are the only two players at 30-under par or lower in a 72-hole event. Spieth, playing smart with a big lead on the back nine, finished at 30-under 262. That was one short of the record Els set at Kapalua in 2003.
He also joined Tiger Woods as the only players since full records began in 1970 to win seven times on the PGA Tour at age 22. Woods was a month younger, and he turned pro later. Spieth collected his seventh win in his 77th start. Woods won his seventh in only his 38th tournament as a pro.
“My putting feels like it’s 100 percent ready for major championships, and I’ve just got to dial in everything else just a little bit more,” he said. “But I can sit here and say that my putting certainly is ready for the Masters to be next week. It’s a really good feeling to have that confidence with the flat stick.”
Brooks Koepka played with Spieth in the final round and started five shots behind. On the first hole, Spieth’s approach somehow settled inches away on the top of a steep bunker about 50 yards from the hole. His pitch rode the grain to 4 feet for par. Koepka three-putted for bogey. Then, Spieth rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt.
Koepka shot 71 and tied for third.
Defending champion Patrick Reed had three birdies in five holes, and he pulled within three shots with a birdie at No. 9. But, Spieth was five shots in front and the gap only got bigger. Reed closed with a 69 and was runner-up.