Masters Tournament
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta Georgia
What a Masters tournament it was, yet again. Year after year the Masters is always exciting and this year’s certainly was. The fact that the tournament is held in the same, amazing place every year certainly is a big factor. Fans are very familiar with the holes, like 11-12-13 a.k.a. Amen Corner. The venue, Augusta National Golf Club is designed so well that it produces opportunities for great shots and low scores, but does penalize poor shots or bad strategy.
From the first round the biggest story of the 2015 Masters was the play of 21-year-old Jordan Spieth. Spieth’s first round was close to an all-time major championship and Masters record. Standing on the easy par-5 15th tee Spieth was sitting at -8. A birdie on the easy par-5 and pars the rest of the way would mean Spieth would tie the record lowest score in a major at 63. The 2nd shot was a miss-club though, and he went over the green and eventually made bogey. A final birdie on the 18th hole put Spieth back at -8, 64 and three shots ahead of the nearest competitors.
Other great rounds on Thursday included 67’s by Charlie Hoffman, Justin Rose, Jason Day, and Ernie Els.
Tiger Woods was shaking off the rust and had a decent showing with a first round 73.
Jordan Spieth continued the great play in round two with a brilliant round of 66. The 64-66 scores marked a Masters record for lowest score after 36 holes. Woods improved in round two with a round of 69, bringing him to red numbers (under par) for the tournament.
Several notable players missed the cut at the end of play Friday including Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Billy Horschel, J.B. Holmes, Brand Snedeker, Jim Furyk, and Gary Woodland.
The biggest story of Friday however, was the final Masters round ever for Ben Crenshaw, his 44th appearance.
Saturday’s “moving day” round was very interesting and thrilling. Woods surged, Spieth struggled at the end of the round, and players like Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose vaulted up the leader board with rounds of 67.
Spieth made a tough double bogey on the 17th which brought the field some hope. A solid up-and-down for par would seal a four shot lead going into Sunday. But the couple of missed shots Spieth hit on Saturday, showing nerves, made Sunday’s round more intriguing.
At the end of play Sunday, Spieth had four shots on 2nd place player Justin Rose, and five shots over Phil Mickelson. McIrlory and Woods finished the 3rd round at -6, some eight shots behind. Those two were paired together on Sunday.
In the final round Spieth started great, with a solid birdie on the first, but Rose matched and added another on the 2nd to climb within three shots. That was as close as anyone would come. There were not Sunday charges from any of the players who had a chance, like Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, or Charley Hoffman. The only real charge was by Rory McIlroy who fired a Sunday low round of 66. But McIlory and Woods were both too far behind to be factors.
In the end Spieth was solid. No weaknesses and not much of a possibility of giving the field a chance. Spieth tied or broke several major championship and Masters scoring records, including tying Tiger Woods’s 1997 score of -18. Had he not missed a meaningless 10 foot par putt on the 18th, that record would be Spieth’s alone. But that putt didn’t matter. The 21-year-old led the tournament wire-to-wire and won in stylish, classy fashion.
With the win Spieth will move up to #2 in the world rankings, behind Rory McIlory. The future of golf is bright with these two new rivals leading the way into golf’s next generation.
