Birdie run: resurgent Jordan Spieth seals PGA title at Colonial after remarkable finish
Shaking off a Masters meltdown as he prepares to defend his US Open crown, world number two Jordan Spieth birdies the last three holes to win the Dean and Deluca Invitational
Shaking off a Masters meltdown as he prepares to defend his US Open crown, world number two Jordan Spieth birdied the last three holes Sunday to win the Dean and Deluca Invitational.
The 22-year-old Texan won his first home-state US PGA title in astonishing fashion, firing a five-under par 65 final round at Colonial to finish on 17-under 263 for a three-stroke victory.
Spieth led last month’s Masters with nine holes remaining and appeared set for a second consecutive wire-to-wire victory at Augusta National, only to collapse on the back nine and hand England’s Danny Willett the green jacket, literally doing so at the award ceremony with a grim facial expression.
“I knew it was going to be tough to put the Masters behind me,” Spieth said. “I don’t wish that on anybody. It’s no fun out there when you hear people yelling, ‘Remember the Masters.’
“To get over that hurdle in our third tournament back says a lot about our character out there.”
Since his major stumble, Spieth has battled back in May, missing the cut at the Players Championship and falling out of the hunt with a last-day fade at last week’s Byron Nelson Championship only to save his best for last at Fort Worth.
“As much as you play it off, that’s a tough hump to get over, after Augusta,” Spieth said.
Spieth, who defends his US Open title next month at Oakmont, curled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th Sunday to seize the lead for good, pumping his right fist with excitement.
To complete his closing hat trick, Spieth dropped a 34-foot birdie putt at 18 and raised in arms in celebration.
“It was difficult to stay patient but that’s the thing we told ourselves to do,” Spieth said.
Harris English fired a 66 to finish second on 266 with Ryan Palmer and Webb Simpson on 267 and Kyle Reifers fifth on 268.
The only non-US player in the top 10 was India’s Anirban Lahiri, who shared sixth on 271 after a 68.
“This is a big step for me to make a move on Jason’s number one reign,” Spieth said. “He has still got some space there but we’re going to try to get closer.”
Spieth opened with nine pars, making a 32-foot par putt at the par-3 eighth for his most amazing rescue, then began the back nine with three birdies in a row to seize the lead.
“I didn’t deserve par on eight by any means,” Spieth said. “Poor first shot. I made a great putt there.”
Spieth sank a 20-foot putt at 10 and short ones on the next two holes, but a bogey at the par-3 13th after finding a greenside bunker dropped him into a share of the lead with English.
At 14, Spieth found a fairway bunker and had to make a testy 13-foot putt to save par, setting the stage for his sizzling finish.
Spieth had not broken 70 in the last round since February and had been under par only once in the last round in his past five tries.