Jordan Spieth impresses with 6-shot Australian Open win
An American hadn’t won the Australian Open in 21 years. In windy conditions on Sunday at the Australian Open, naturally, it was a Texan who ended that skid.
While the rest of the field was blown away by windy conditions at The Australian Golf Club, Jordan Spieth dominated the course to shoot a final-round, 8-under 63 and win the Aussie Open by six shots over Rod Pampling.
Spieth came into the tournament miffed he hadn’t broken through in his second season as a pro. But that 63, a tournament best by two shots, capped off a very consistent year with the win he sought.
“It would be a lie if I didn’t say that it was eating at me a little bit,” he said.
The 21-year-old walks away from the trip Down Under not only with a win, but a victory over his weekend woes. On the PGA Tour in 2014, Spieth was ranked 112th in third-round scoring and 62nd in final rounds.
“This week was big because I was able to close it out,” Spieth said. “I felt the pressure and I felt the nerves and performed the best I’ve ever performed.”
A year ago, Rory McIlroy used a win at this tournament to propel him to a four-win, two-major year. Spieth said he’d happily take that kind of leap from this win.
“I think if I had the follow-up year that Rory had this year, I think I’d be pleased this time next year – that would be nice,” Spieth said.
Both Spieth and McIlroy will be favorites for the Masters come April, with the world No. 1 seeking a third-straight major and completion of the career grand slam. Spieth, who finished second to Bubba Watson this year after holding a Sunday lead on the front nine, believes he has a long way to go from what it took to pull off this win and wind up with a green jacket at Augusta National.
“In order to do this in majors,” Spieth said, “it’s going to take a lot more than it took this week.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
