April 12th 2015, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A.: Jordan Spieth got more than redemption and a Green Jacket Sunday. He took his place among the best in the game with a Masters Tournament victory for the ages.
One year after Spieth lost a bid to become the youngest Masters champion, the 21-year-old Texan turned in one of the most dominant wins ever at Augusta National. He never let anyone get closer to him than three shots after his record start. He never gave anyone much hope on Sunday.
Spieth closed with a 2-under 70, missing a 5-foot par putt on the final hole that would have set yet another record. Instead, he tied the score set by Tiger Woods in 1997 at 18-under 270.
"This was the ultimate goal in my golf life," Spieth said.
For all the talk about the Grand Slam bid by Rory McIlroy and the return of Woods, this week was about the arrival of another star.
"It's awfully impressive," McIlroy said after finishing fourth. "It's nice to get your major tally up and running at an early stage in your career. It's great to see, great for the game, and I'm sure there will be many more."
Spieth became the first wire-to-wire winner at the Masters since Raymond Floyd in 1976, and this might have been even more special. Craig Wood in 1941 is the only other Masters champion who led by at least three shots from the opening round to the trophy presentation.
Anirban Lahiri (IND)
Anirban Lahiri of India produced 18 pars in the final round to finish tied 49th position in his first ever appearance at Augusta National Golf Club.
The 27-year-old Lahiri, who had rounds of 71, 75, 74 and 72 totalled four-over-par 292 in the year’s first Major tournament.
“I missed at least a couple of four-footers for birdie and maybe another four-odd putts inside 10 feet, so it was a frustrating round in many senses,” said Lahiri.
Throughout the day, Lahiri improved upon his play from tee to the green but like the previous three rounds, he struggled on the greens.
“It was as if the ball was dodging the hole or vice-versa and I just could not make it happen,” he said.
Lahiri admitted that he had hoped of improving his position when he started on Sunday. “I knew a score around in the 60s was possible and it would help me move up. And after the way I played off the tee and with iron shots, the score at worst should have been 68, but it was not to be.”
Barring his putting, Lahiri had his best day finding 15 greens in regulation but compiled 34 putts on the last two days.
He summed up his experience of the maiden Masters, as a ‘mixed bag’, saying, “I was happy to make the cut in my first Masters, just as I had done in my first Open in 2012. But I would have wanted to do better.”
Lahiri will stay on in the US for RBC Heritage tournament next week in Hilton Head and will then have a week’s break and head to World Golf Championships Matchplay in Florida. “I am hoping to make the best of all chances and opportunities I am getting at this stage and this will help me grow,” said Lahiri.
