Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major
Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup Playoff
Series came to a climax with the final event of four and it headed to the State
of Georgia for the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and it was played on the
East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia. It carried a huge prize purse of US $8,250,000
for the taking. There was a new champion in both the FedEx Cup and Tour
Championship by Coca – Cola as Billy Horschel (USA) finished in sixty sixtieth
position on the final 2014/15 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings after
the third playoffs event which was the BMW Championship and failed to make it
to Eastlake. Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand golfer in the field and
was looking for a high finish to top off his career season to date so far which
he got. All the big names were there including Rory McILroy (NIR), Jordan
Spieth (USA), Jason Day (Australia), Bubba Watson (USA) and Rickie Fowler (USA)
to name a few. Only the top thirty players (which was now twenty nine due to
Jim Furyk (USA) withdrawing due to a wrist injury) on the FedEx Cup Playoffs
Points list standings after the BMW Championship were eligible to compete. One
of the top five seeds on the FedEx Cup Playoff Series Points list standings
after the BMW Championship would win the 2014/15 FedEx Cup if they won the Tour
Championship by Coca – Cola along with the US $10,000,000 bonus that went with
it!! And it was the golfer by the name of Jordan Spieth (USA) who scored rounds
of 68-2, 66-4, 68-2 and a final round of 69-1 for a seventy two hole total of
271-9 and he won the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola by four shots for his
fifth win of the season and the sixth win of his USPGA Tour career to date so
far and with this win he also gained the prestigious FedEx Cup for the 2014/15
season (And he was the only player in the field to score all four rounds in the
60s)!! Jordan Spieth (USA) won US $1,485,000 for the win and won the 2014/15
season final USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $12,030,465 earned from
the twenty five events he played in this season (and that is the most money
ever won in a single season). Jason Day (Australia) was second on that list
with US $9,403,330 earned from the twenty events he played in this season. Jordan
Spieth (USA) earned 2000 FedEx Cup Points for the win and won the 2014/15 FedEx
Cup and the US $10,000,000 bonus that goes with it with 3,800 points earned
from the twenty five events he played in and he won the 2014/15 FedEx Cup by
1,493 points over Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who earned 2,307 points from the
sixteen events he played in. From the twenty five events Jordan Spieth (USA)
played in this season he made twenty one cuts and achieved fifteen top ten
finishes which includes the one this past week and also his wins at the Valspar
Championship in March, Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship) in April,
U. S. Open Championship (Second Major Championship) in June and John Deere
Classic in July. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in
the 60s especially his second round 66-4 which was blemish free and the low
round of the day by two shots!! And also his final round 69-1 which he made
some brilliant putts for birdies and great par saves!! And the win this week
was the icing on the cake for an amazing season!! He can now tick winning the
FedEx Cup off his bucket list. And he goes into the Presidents Cup in less than
two weeks time with renewed confidence after showing mediocre form in the
previous three FedEx Cup Playoff events.
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) tees off on the first hole in the final round with the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup Tropies in view!! |
Jordan Spieth (USA)
played a brilliant final round after carrying a slim one shot lead into the
final round. He scored 69-1 which included a front nine of 34-1 with birdies on
the par three, second hole, par four, eighth hole and par five, ninth hole but
he made poor bogeys on the par four, fifth hole and par three, sixth hole and
he made the turn at minus nine and was leading by two shots. Danny Lee (NZL)
went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus four and was five shots behind the
leader. Justin Rose (England) went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus five
and was four shots behind the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) went out in 35
even par and made the turn at minus seven and was two shots behind the leader.
Jordan Spieth (USA)
played holes ten to fourteen in even par which included a birdie on the par
three, eleventh hole and a bogey on the par four, tenth hole and he remained at
minus nine and was still leading by two shots. Danny Lee (NZL) played holes ten
to fourteen in even par and it included birding the par four, twelfth hole and
par four, fourteenth hole but he bogeyed the par four, tenth hole and par four,
thirteenth hole and he remained at minus four and was still five shots behind
the leader. Justin Rose (England) played holes ten to fourteen in even par and
that included making birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and par four,
thirteenth hole but he suffered a shocking double bogey six on the par four,
tenth hole where he hooked his tee shot out of bounds!! And he remained at
minus five and was still four shots behind the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
played holes ten to fourteen in one over par and fell back to minus six which
included a birdie on the par three, eleventh hole and bogeys on the par four,
tenth hole and par four, twelfth hole and he was now three shots behind the
leader.
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) hits a drive during the final round |
Jordan Spieth (USA)
played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and that included making critical
par saves on the par five, fifteenth and par four, sixteenth holes and he
remained at minus nine and now had a four shot lead heading to the difficult
par three, seventy second hole. Danny Lee (NZL) played holes fifteen to
seventeen in one under par and that included birding the par five, fifteenth
hole and he moved to minus five and was now only five shots behind the leader
heading to the difficult par three, seventy second hole. Justin Rose (England)
played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par that included birding the par
five, fifteenth hole and bogeying the par four, seventeenth hole and he
remained at minus five heading to the difficult par three, seventy second hole.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden) played holes fifteen to seventeen in two over par and
that included a terrible double bogey six he had on the par four, seventeenth
hole where he shanked his second shot with his short iron and fell back to
minus four heading to the difficult par three, seventy second hole.
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) on the right and Michael Greller, his caddie on the left prepare to play a shot during the final round |
Danny Lee (NZL) who
was playing in a few groups ahead of the final group made a solid par on the
difficult par three, seventy second hole and finished the seventy two holes at
minus five and finished four shots behind the winner. Justin Rose (England) who
was playing two groups ahead of the final group made a solid par at the
difficult par three, seventy hole and finished the seventy two holes at minus
five and finished four shots behind the winner. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who was
playing in the final group along with Jordan Spieth (USA) made an amazing
birdie two on the difficult par three, seventy second hole where he holed a
left to right breaking putt from forty feet and he finished the seventy two
holes at minus five and finished four shots behind the winner.
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) engages with the gallery as he walks up to the seventy second green |
Jordan Spieth (USA)
now stood on the par three, seventy second tee with a four shot lead and knew
as long as his tee shot found dry land he would win both the FedEx Cup and Tour
Championship by Coca – Cola. He slightly pulled his tee shot with his mid iron
and it landed on the green pin high thirty five feet to the left of the pin. Walking
up to the green he knew he could enjoy the walk because he now knew he had
secured both the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola. After
studying the putt with his caddie, Michael Greller, he then put an aggressive
stroke on it and it rolled ten feet past the cup. But just as he had been
putting all day he made the return ten footer for par and he scored 35 even par
on his back nine to finish the seventy two holes at minus nine and he won by
four shots!! He pumped his fist in the air in celebration!! Then he got a huge
high five and hug from his caddie, Michael Greller!! Then his younger sister,
Ellie who suffers from Down syndrome
came onto the seventy second green to give him a big hug as well!! Jordan
Spieth (USA) has always said “that Ellie helps him to keep all the success he
has had at golf in perspective and helps him enjoy life and the simple things
it provides”. Then his Father, Shawn and Mother, Mary were there to give his a
hug as well and also his Brother, Steven and his Girl Friend, Annie Verret gave
him a hug to celebrate!!
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) pumps his fist after holing the winning putt!! |
Jordan Spieth (USA) then went to the prize – giving and the PGA Tour
Commissioner, Tim Finchem said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Jordan you played great
all year, and you came in here and beat the best thirty players of the year and
did it in great style and great fashion!! Congratulations on winning the Tour
Championship by Coca – Cola!!” Then the PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem presented
the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola trophy to Jordan Spieth (USA). Jordan
Spieth (USA) then held it up in the air and displayed it to the gallery
watching!! Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said “And of
course Jordan you knew if you won that this next big cup would be coming your
way and officially the FedEx Cup Champion for the 2014/15 Season presented by
PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem to Jordan Spieth (USA)” Then PGA Tour
Commissioner, Tim Finchem said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Jordan, the FedEx Cup
season is designed to reward the player who had a consistent, outstanding
season all year long but also when it comes right down here to the Tour
Championship plays his best in the brightest lights, you won five times this
year, two Major Championships, took a run at the Grand Slam and you came in
here and became the youngest player to win the FedEx Cup Trophy,
Congratulations!!” Then PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem presented Jordan
Spieth (USA) with the FedEx Cup and he looked at all the names on it and held
it up in the air and displayed it to the gallery watching just as he had done a
few minutes earlier with the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola Trophy!!
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) looks at all the names on the FedEx Cup he won with Johnny Miller (NBC Sports/Golf Channel experts man) on his left, Dan Hicks (NBC Sports/Golf Channel Anchorman) on his right and PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem on his far right looking on!! |
Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said “Jordan, Tim
was mentioning all the accolades it has been a special season and I know than
you are only twenty two years old, but now that you have lifted the FedEx Cup
had all those incredible Major Championships, Two of the Four and in contention
in the other two we were talking before we came over here on the air, Johnnie (Johnnie
Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel experts man) and I, this goes down as
one of the great season in PGA Tour history with what you have done with a
fifth win today” Jordan Spieth (USA) replied “Thank you, this um, this is
incredible, this is an event ah, we approach it like a Major Championship
because we know that this is possible at the end of it and ah we didn’t have a
great playoffs but we put a lot of hard work into this week, I was out here
early Monday Morning, Ah we approached it as if it was a Major, and mentally we
stayed in it, even when I didn’t have my best ball striking, and boy that putter
sure paid off!!” Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said
“You were a man of you word after you missed the cut in the first two playoff
events, there was a week before the BMW Championship where you finished
thirteenth and got things together, what happened pacifically in that time
frame to full up the Jordan Spieth (USA) Bandwagon to get it here to Eastlake?”
Jordan Spieth (USA) replied “I got frustrated, ah I missed two cuts in a row, I
had never done that, I lost the number one ranking, I was watching Jason Day
(Australia) just dominate golf, and it was frustrating so I got to work um put
my head down a little bit more than I did right after the PGA Championship,
knowing that we could still peak this week and that is what we did.” Then Johnnie Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf
Channel expert’s man, said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Well the bottom line is
world number one at twenty two years old now with all these wonderful things
that happened to you (pointing to the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship by Coca –
Cola trophies he won) it is definitely a time to smile isn’t it, (And he taps
Jordan on the shoulder) but I mean going back to the golf today, obviously you
are going against Stenson (Henrik Stenson (Sweden)) who is playing terrific
golf and a brilliant ball striker, and then you make the putt at eight, and
then you make the putt at nine and the putt at eleven and it seemed like you
took the air out his lungs so to speak, was that the key, was that key where
going to take a look at some of these putts, was that the key to the win?” And
Jordan Spieth (USA) replied “Yeah, I think ah this was the one at eleven here
(looking at the TV Monitor) that and this time Henrik was in there tight and
about to make a birdie and make a little charge and that one was unexpected but
for that one to go in just takes the life out a little bit, Henrik is a great
competitor and actually a good friend and a nice guy who came up and gave me a
fist pump and then that moment that show a lot about his character and about
how ah we are still root for each other but we are just hoping our best beats
his best”. Then Johnnie Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel expert’s man,
said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “You know like every fifteen minutes it seems like
when I am on the air I just have to remind myself that this guy is twenty two
you know, I mean like come on now what a year ha?” Then Jordan Spieth (USA)
replied “yeah, this is unreal, it real is this year is unreal, and I don’t know
we are going to sit down and try and improve on it but we are going to try and
do that, there is never a stop in our team, and ah this a phenomenal victory
that we are going to enjoy”. Then Johnnie Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf
Channel expert’s man, said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Well it just was a lot of
fun for all of us, and keep up the words after your shots, I love the comments
after your shots, it is pretty entertaining you could properly be an announcer,
just on your own ball”. Then Jordan Spieth (USA) replied “Yeah, I don’t know
(Smiling) I am glad you guys only have the microphones there right after the
shot and don’t hear what I am saying as we walking down the fairways, I keep it
PG right after the shots, But sometimes I get pretty frustrated so all in all
hey I am glad I can provide some commentary for you Johnny”. Then Johnnie
Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel expert’s man, said to Jordan Spieth
(USA) “Outstanding year, what a year Ah Folks!!”
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| Jordan Spieth (USA) gets a big hug from his younger sister, Ellie as he walks off the seventy second green!! |
Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said to Jordan
Spieth (USA) “Jordan, you are so often you so often you use the word we to
describe this effort, you had your family out there today, we saw the nice hug
with your sister Ellie, from Michael Greller, his caddie, on and on it is it is
truly is a team effort even though you are the guy firing the shots out
there”. Then Jordan Spieth (USA) replied
“Sure, there is so much work that goes in from manager, to coach to my trainer
to Michael (His caddie) um to my family, it really is behind the scenes a team
effort, and you know everyone does their job just to free me up, and that is
what they did, they did we did an incredible job peaking with everything for
the Major Championships and the Tour Championship this year, and ah this is one
I cannot wait to celebrate with them, and now we will have a little bit of time
off I think, Well I guess we have a week until the Presidents Cup and then be
able to enjoy it even more”. Then Dan
Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “You
had some incredible putts all week long, some critical par saving putts, where
going to show you a couple here, this the one at fifteen, do you just grind a
little more when it’s for par?” And Jordan Spieth (USA) replied “Ha Ha, No I
just didn’t have that many birdie putts, It just happened all week for par,
ah”. Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said to Jordan
Spieth (USA) “So there’s the one at fifteen, and then at sixteen, did you kind
of see the light at the end of the tunnel?” And Jordan Spieth (USA) replied
“When this one went in, when this one went in, but seventeen”. Then Johnnie
Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel expert’s man, said to Jordan Spieth
(USA) “The tee shot”. Then Dan Hicks who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel anchorman
continued to interview Jordan Spieth (USA) an he replied “It is not a fun tee
shot on seventeen, I just I told Michael (His Caddie), I said if we pump this
into the people it is not a bad thing, that is not the worst thing, you on
seventeen you just can’t be left, ah so you try and just kind of guide it out
there and let the wind take it back, but on sixteen, um a three shot lead with
two to play, you know you can pretty much go par, par and that’s it, ah but
after the drive on seventeen is when I realised”. Then Dan Hicks who is NBC
Sports/Golf Channel anchorman said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Alright, Jordan,
thank you very much, Jordan Spieth (USA) your Tour Championship winner and
FedEx Cup Champion!!” and Johnnie Miller, who is NBC Sports/Golf Channel
expert’s man, said to Jordan Spieth (USA) “Hold that up (Mean the two trophies
he had won!!)”.
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| Another photo of Jordan Spieth (USA) posing with the FedEx Cup trophy on his right and the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola Trophy on his left that he won!! |
Jordan Alexander Spieth (USA) (/ˈspiːθ/; SPEETH; born July 27, 1993) is an American professional golfer
on the USPGA Tour, and world number one in the World Golf Ranking. He is a
two-time major winner and the defending FedEx Cup champion. Jordan Spieth (USA)
won his first major at the 2015 Masters Tournament with a score of 270 (−18),
earning him US $1.8 million. Jordan Spieth (USA) tied the 72-hole record set by
Tiger Woods (USA) in 1997 and became the second youngest to win the Masters
Tournament, behind Tiger Woods (USA). He then won the 2015 U.S. Open
Championship with a final score of 5-under-par. He is the youngest
U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones (USA) in 1923. He followed up with a win
in the 2015 Tour Championship, which clinched the 2015 FedEx Cup. Jordan Spieth
(USA) was born in Dallas, Texas, to Shawn T. Spieth and Mary Christine (née
Julius) Spieth. He attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from
Jesuit College Preparatory School in 2011.
Jordan Spieth (USA) won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2011, joining
Tiger Woods (USA) as its only multiple winners. Before turning 18 in July 2011,
he was No. 1 in the Polo Golf Rankings, which promotes the best junior golfers
in the United States. He finished second in the 2008 and 2009 Junior
PGA Championship. The American Junior Golf Association named him the
Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2009. Jordan Spieth (USA) accepted
an exemption to play in the USPGA Tour's HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2010.
It was the event's first amateur exemption since 1995. The tournament's
previous exemptions had included Trip Kuehne (USA) in 1995, and Justin Leonard
(USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) in 1993. He made the cut, becoming the
sixth-youngest player to make the cut at a USPGA Tour event. Jordan
Spieth (USA) was tied for seventh place after the third round, and finished the
tournament in a tie for sixteenth place. He was offered another exemption into
the tournament in 2011, when he again made the cut and finished in a tie for
32nd. Jordan Spieth (USA) played college golf for the Longhorns at the University
of Texas. Jordan Spieth (USA) was a member of the 2011 Walker Cup
team, and played in three of the four rounds, halving his foursomes match and
winning both singles matches. In his freshman year at Texas, Jordan Spieth
(USA) won three events and led the team in scoring average. He helped his team
win the NCAA championship, was named to the All-Big 12 Team, Big 12 Freshman of
the Year and Player of the Year, and was a first-team All-American. Jordan
Spieth (USA) earned a spot in the U.S. Open Championship in 2012 as an
alternate after Brandt Snedeker (USA) withdrew; he tied for 21st and
was the low amateur. He became the number one amateur in the World Amateur Golf
Ranking after his performance in the U.S. Open and Patrick Cantlay's (USA)
decision to turn professional.
Midway through his sophomore year at Texas in 2012, the 19-year-old
Jordan Spieth (USA) turned professional. He partnered with Under Armour for
sponsorship in January 2013 and with BioSteel Sports Supplements in March. Jordan
Spieth (USA) opened the 2013 season by missing the cut by two strokes at the
Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January. In March, Jordan Spieth
(USA) made three cuts, finishing tied for second at the Puerto Rico Open and
tied for seventh at the Tampa Bay Championship. He earned Special Temporary
Member status in March, allowing him unlimited sponsor exemptions, whereas
non-members are limited to seven per season. He notched another top-10
finish in April at the RBC Heritage, a tie for ninth. On July 14, about two
weeks before his twentieth birthday, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the John Deere
Classic in a three-way, sudden-death playoff on the fifth playoff hole against
defending champion Zach Johnson (USA) and David Hearn (Canada). He became the
fourth youngest USPGA Tour winner and the first teenager in 82 years; last
accomplished by Ralph Guldahl (USA) at the Santa Monica Open in 1931. Jordan Spieth
(USA) holed out from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to make the playoff.
With the victory, Jordan Spieth (USA) was granted full status as a USPGA
Tour member and became eligible for the FedEx Cup, entering in eleventh place
in the standings. It also earned him entry into the next three majors: the 2013
Open Championship, PGA Championship, and 2014 Masters. Five weeks
after his first victory, Jordan Spieth (USA) played the Wyndham Championship,
where he lost in a playoff to Patrick Reed (USA). Jordan Spieth (USA) shot a
final round 62 in the Deutsche Bank Championship, vaulting him into a tie for
fourth. Just two days later, captain Fred Couples (USA) selected Jordan Spieth
(USA) for the United States squad in the 2013 Presidents Cup. On September 27,
2013, he was named USPGA Tour Rookie of the Year. At the end of the 2013
season, he was ranked tenth on the USPGA Tour money list and twenty second in
the Official World Golf Ranking.
Jordan Spieth (USA) made his debut at 2014 The Masters and shared the
54-hole lead with Bubba Watson (USA). During the final round, Jordan Spieth (USA)
at one point was the standalone leader by two strokes and in position to become
the youngest Masters champion in history; Tiger Woods (USA) holds the record at
age 21. But Bubba Watson (USA) retook the lead heading into the back nine and
never relinquished it. Jordan Spieth (USA) finished in a tie for second with
Jonas Blixt (Sweden), becoming the youngest runner-up in Masters Tournament history.
Jordan Spieth (USA) ended the tournament having shot no worse than an even-par
(72) in any of his rounds. His finish moved him into the top 10 in the world
rankings for the first time. Following the PGA Championship, Jordan Spieth
(USA) earned selection to the 2014 Ryder Cup team, becoming the youngest
American to play in the matches for 85 years since Horton Smith (USA) in 1929.
In November, Jordan Spieth (USA) won his second tournament as a
professional at the Emirates Australian Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia; in
the final round he shot a course-record 63 to win the title by six strokes. A
week later, he completed back-to-back victories, winning the Hero World
Challenge in Florida. He won the tournament wire-to-wire and in doing so set a
new tournament scoring record of 26-under-par.
On March 15, he won the Valspar Championship in a three-way playoff with
Patrick Reed (USA) and Sean O'Hair (USA). He secured his victory on the third
extra hole by sinking a 30-foot birdie putt. The win moved him to sixth in the
Official World Golf Ranking. A runner-up finish at the Valero Texas Open moved him to a career-high ranking of fourth in the world.
The following week, Jordan Spieth (USA) lost in a sudden-death playoff at the Shell
Houston Open, having held the 54-hole lead. He shot a
final round 70, but had to hole an 8-footer on the last to force the playoff
following low rounds by J. B. Holmes (USA) and
Johnson Wagner (USA) that had pushed them to
the top of the leaderboard. On the first playoff hole, Jordan Spieth (USA) put
his drive into a bunker, then followed up with a poor shot, causing his
elimination from the playoff, which was won by J. B. Holmes (USA).
On April 9, Jordan Spieth (USA) shot an opening round 64 to finish the
day eight strokes under par with a three-shot lead in the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta, Georgia;
Jordan Spieth (USA) set a record as the youngest player to lead the Masters
after the first round. His score was only one shot behind the course record of
63 shared by Nick Price (Zimbabwe) and Greg
Norman (Australia), with their rounds coming in 1986
and 1996 respectively. Jordan
Spieth (USA) shot 66 the following day to break the 36-hole Masters scoring
record by posting 14-under 130 through two rounds. The previous record, set by Raymond
Floyd (USA) in 1976, was 13-under 131. He broke the
54-hole record at the Masters shooting a 16-under 200 through three rounds. During
the final round Jordan Spieth (USA) briefly held a score of −19 but bogeyed the final hole resulting in him tying Tiger Woods' (USA)
1997 score record at 18-under. Jordan Spieth (USA) set the record for the most birdies during the Masters by making twenty eight and became the
second-youngest person to win the Masters Tournament. His victory was the first
wire-to-wire Masters Tournament win since Raymond Floyd's (USA) in 1976. The victory moved Jordan Spieth (USA) to Number
two in the Official World Golf Ranking.
On June 21, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the U.S. Open
Championship to claim his second major championship. He carded a one-under 69
in the final round to finish with a total of 275 (-5) and win the tournament by
one stroke over Dustin Johnson (USA) and Louis
Oosthuizen (RSA). Jordan Spieth (USA) had begun the
day in a four way tie for the lead and played in the penultimate group
alongside Branden Grace (RSA). He opened his
final round with a bogey to fall behind, but then a run 12 pars and two birdies
in his next 14 holes moved him into a tie for the lead with Branden Grace (USA)
at five under par. On the 16th hole, Branden Grace (RSA) hit his tee shot out
of bounds that led to a double bogey and Jordan Spieth (USA) capitalized by
rolling in a lengthy birdie putt to create a three shot swing, which gave Jordan
Spieth (USA) a three shot lead with two to play. However, on the 17th tee,
Jordan Spieth (USA) pushed his tee shot well right into the thick rough, which
led to a double bogey and coupled with Dustin Johnson's (USA) birdie on the sixteenth,
the two were tied for the lead briefly. Jordan Spieth (USA) then missed an
eagle putt on the eighteenth to give him a two shot lead, but made birdie to
become the leader in the clubhouse. Dustin Johnson (USA) then had an eagle putt
to win the tournament outright on the 72nd hole, but three-putted from twelve
feet to finish one stroke behind. Jordan Spieth (USA) became only the sixth
player ever to win the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open back to back, and
the first since Tiger Woods (USA) in 2002. The
other four golfers to accomplish this feat are Hall of Fame members Craig
Wood (USA), Ben Hogan
(USA), Arnold Palmer (USA) and Jack
Nicklaus (USA). He became the fourth-youngest player to win
multiple major championships and the youngest winner of the U.S. Open
Championship since Bobby Jones (USA) in 1923.
The week before The Open Championship, Jordan Spieth (USA) chose
to play at the John Deere Classic rather than
the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open,
where many other top-ranked players were competing to prepare for the links
style courses. Jordan Spieth (USA) shot
the lowest round of his professional career to date, with a 61 in the third
round. He eventually won the
tournament in a playoff for his fourth victory of the year. Jordan Spieth's
(USA) quest for the grand slam ended when he finished tied for fourth in The
Open Championship with a final score of –14, one stroke out of a playoff. He
had been tied for the lead but bogeyed the seventeenth hole to drop one stroke
behind and could not make his birdie on the eighteenth to join the playoff.
After finishing second behind Jason Day (Australia) at the 2015 PGA Championship, he became the world number one in the Official
World Golf Ranking. He is the eighteenth different
golfer to earn the honour. He was number one for two weeks in August 2015 and
one week in September. Jordan Spieth (USA) missed the cut in The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship, the first two events of the FedEx Cup playoffs. However, his tied for thirteenth finish at the BMW
Championship kept him second overall in the
standings. Only needing a victory to clinch the championship, Jordan Spieth (USA)
won the 2015 Tour Championship at East
Lake Golf Club by four strokes. With the win, his
fifth of the year, Jordan Spieth (USA) became the ninth FedEx Cup champion and
earned a US $10 million bonus for winning the Cup. Jordan Spieth won US $12,030,485
(not including the $10 million bonus) in 2015, a USPGA Tour record for a single
year. He also regained the world number one ranking.
After earning a spot on the 2013 Presidents Cup team,
Jordan Spieth (USA) began to plan the Jordan Spieth Charitable Fund. The fund
provides awareness and financial assistance to special needs children, military
families and youth golf. Jordan Spieth (USA) is the son of Chris and Shawn
Spieth, both natives of Pennsylvania. His
grandfather, Donald Spieth, is a music teacher at Moravian College and Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
where he was a long-time conductor of the
former Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra. The Spieths are of German descent. Jordan has two younger siblings, Steven and
Ellie. Steven is a basketball player at Brown University. Ellie has grown up with disabilities and Jordan Spieth
(USA) has credited her with keeping him grounded and focused as well as keeping
the game of golf in perspective. He has been linked to Annie Verret, who works
at The First Tee after graduating from Texas
Tech. Jordan Spieth (USA) is Catholic and attends USPGA
Tour Bible study meetings with other players.
Jordan Spieth (USA) is just coming off a history breaking season and now will
lead Team USA at the Presidents Cup against Team International in less than two
weeks time and a win for Team USA will cap off his History setting season. And
let’s hope he can continue this excellent form to the 2015/16 USPGA Tour and
FedEx Cup season when he chooses to start his next season, I wish him every
continuing success!!
Rounding out the top four in tied for second position at 275-5 after
seventy two holes was the only New
Zealand golfer in the field, Danny Lee (NZL) who was the first golfer from New
Zealand ever to make it to the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola since the FedEx
Cup began in 2007 and he scored rounds of 69-1 in the first round which was a good
round and it included a good front nine of 34-1 with birdies on the par four,
first hole and par four, eighth hole but had a poor lone bogey on the par four,
third hole then he scored an average back nine of 35 even par which included a lone
birdie on the par four, fourteenth hole and a lone bogey on the par three, eleventh
hole. Then he scored a poor second round of 72+2 and it included a poor front
nine of 36+1 which included a lone birdie on the par four, fourth hole and a shocking
double bogey on the par four, eighth hole and then he scored a poor back nine
of 36+1 with a lone birdie coming on the par four, tenth hole and poor bogeys coming on the par five, fifteenth
hole and par three, eighteenth hole and then a very good third round of 69-1 which
included a very front nine of 34-1 with a
lone poor bogey on the par four, third hole and birdies on the par four, first
hole and par three, sixth hole then he scored a good back nine of 35 even par
with a lone birdie coming on the par four, fourteen hole and a lone poor bogey
coming on the par three, eighteenth hole and a brilliant final round of 65-5
which included a brilliant front nine of 31-4 with birdies coming on the par
four, first hole, par three, second hole, par three, sixth hole and par four, eighth
hole then he played a good back nine of 34-1 which included birdies on the par four,
twelve hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par five, fifteenth hole but he had
poor bogeys on the par four, tenth hole and par four, thirteenth hole for a 72
hole total of 275-5 and he finished in tied for second position. Danny Lee
(NZL) earned US $618,750 for his efforts and finished in thirteenth position on
the final 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,965,933 earned
from the thirty six events he played in this season (And it is the first time
in his USPGA Tour career he has surpassed the US $3,000,000 mark in single
season earnings!!). Danny Lee (NZL) also earned 867 FedEx Cup playoff points
for his efforts and finished in ninth position on the final 2014/15 FedEx Cup Playoffs
Points standings list with 1,123 points earned from the thirty six events he
played in this season and also won US $550,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money.
From the thirty six events Danny Lee (NZL) played in this season he made twenty
four cuts and withdrew from one event and achieved eight top ten finishes which
includes the one this week and the one seven weeks ago at the WGC – Bridgestone
Invitational and the eight weeks ago at the Quicken Loans National and mid July
at the John Deere Classic and his maiden win in early July at the Greenbrier
Classic and in May at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the one in
mid March at the Valspar Championship and also his tied for third finish at the
OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year. He will be happy with his first,
third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his 65-5 in the
final round which included a front nine 31-4!! But disappointed with his second
round that was 72+2!! And it was good to see him have another top five finish
to end out the season because in his last four starts his best finish had been
tied for thirtieth. And with the finish this past week he now moves to a career
high thirty sixth on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings and
it will give him a huge boost of confidence heading into his maiden Presidents
Cup in his native homeland of South Korea in less than two weeks. But over the
past two odd months he has moved his golf career up a huge notch and I look for
him to keep on improving and I look for him to have more top ten finishes in
the events he plays on the USPGA Tour in the next few weeks and he has a very
busy time in the next few weeks with the Presidents Cup less than two weeks
away!! And his place in the 2015 International Presidents Cup Team that will
play against Team USA for the Presidents Cup in South Korea in October was
confirmed after the completion of the Deutsche Bank Championship where he
finished in tenth position on the final Presidents Cup International points
list standings with 2.43 points and he got the final automatic qualifying spot
and will play in his maiden Presidents Cup in his birth country. Danny Jin-Myung Lee (NZL) (born 24
July 1990) is a professional golfer from Rotorua, New Zealand. Danny Lee (NZL)
was born in South Korea and emigrated to New Zealand at the age of eight. His
name in Hangul is 이진명. He became a naturalized New Zealander on 2
September 2008 at Rotorua, where he attended Rotorua Boys' High School. Danny
Lee (NZL) turned professional after the 2009 Masters Tournament, forfeiting his
guaranteed entry into the 2009 U.S. Open and the 2009 British Open as the 2008
U.S. Amateur champion. In April, Danny Lee (NZL) signed a two-year endorsement
contract with Callaway Golf, to use Callaway clubs, balls, and signage on his
clothes. The company has not released how much his contract is worth, but
sources say it is for US$1 million per year. Danny Lee (NZL) was
allowed to use seven sponsor exemptions during the USPGA Tour season, and
gained three other starts courtesy of his U.S. Amateur and Johnnie Walker
Classic titles. Danny Lee (NZL) entered the new season
in 2012 with USPGA Tour and European Tour cards. He said he was still keen to
play a two-tour schedule, however his main focus would be on America. He made
only 13 cuts in 26 events on the USPGA Tour and lost his tour card. He did not
play on the European Tour. After striking up a successful partnership late in
the Nationwide Tour season, Danny Lee (NZL) said he would have Australian
Graeme Courts, a former long-time caddy of Loren Roberts (USA), working for him
on the USPGA Tour. K. J. Choi (South Korea) introduced Danny Lee (NZL) to
another Australian, Steve Bann, as a potential coach. "I am close with
K.J. Choi and he said I was thinking too much about my swing," Danny Lee (NZL)
said. "I was always working on something and I am too technical sometimes
so K.J. introduced me to Steve. Steve is a simple guy who is teaching me how to
practice with better routine and how to trust my own game and not think too
much. In 2013 Danny Lee (NZL) played on the Web.com Tour, finishing fifteenth
on the regular season money list to regain his USPGA Tour card for 2014. His
best finish was second at the Rex Hospital Open. In 2014 on the back of six
straight missed cuts, Danny Lee (NZL) adopted a claw putting grip for the
Puerto Rico Open in March. He credited the change of putting style for yielding
him an instant result; a runner-up finish, two shots behind winner Chesson Hadley
(USA). And as I mentioned before 2014/15 USPGA Tour season has been Danny Lee’s
(NZL) career best season to date so far and now he has got his maiden USPGA
Tour victory at the Greenbrier Classic in July. I feel his game is only going
to go from strength to strength with the renewed confidence it will bring to
him. His Official World Golf Ranking has now moved to thirty sixth and he now
gets guaranteed starts in the next years Major Championship (which is the 80th
Masters Tournament in April 2016; 116th U.S. Championship in June 2016; 145th
Open Championship in July 2016 and 98th PGA Championship in July 2016) and that
is pending on if he can stay inside the top fifty at the end of 2015 on the
Official World Golf Rankings. He will also represent New Zealand at the Olympic
Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 on his current form. He is also exempt
on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2016/17 USPGA Tour season. I look for his
second USPGA Tour win to come in the next few years and for him to achieve some
top ten finishes in Major Championships (Perhaps at the 80th Masters Tournament
in April next year?). The future looks very bright for Danny Lee (NZL) moving
forward. I wish him all the best for the for his Maiden appearance in the
Presidents Cup for Team International against Team USA in less than two weeks
time in his native country of South Korea and also to have a very strong start
to the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Also tied for second position was Justin Rose
(England); he too earned US $618,750 for his efforts and finished in sixth
position on the final 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $5,462,677
earned from the twenty events he played in this season. He also earned 867
FedEx Cup Playoffs Points for his efforts and finished in eighth position on
the final 2014/15 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 1,235 points
earned from the twenty events he played in this season and also won US $600,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money. From
the twenty events he played in this year he made fifteen cuts and achieved
eight top ten finishes which includes the one this week and also his win at the
Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April. He will be happy with his second and
final rounds this week that were both in the 60s especially his 66-4 in the
final round!! But will be just content with his first round 70 even par and his
third round 71+1. But I feel he will be happy with his season on the whole with
one win which I mentioned above and top five finishes at the Masters Tournament
and PGA Championship and a top sixth finish at the Open Championship. And I
feel in the next few years he will win his second Major Championship. Justin Peter Rose (England) (born 30
July 1980) is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most
of his golf on the USPGA Tour, while keeping his membership on the European Tour.
He won his first major championship at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club,
becoming the first English player to win a major since Sir Nick Faldo (England)
in 1996 and the first to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin (England) in
1970. Justin
Rose (England) has won seven USPGA Tour events to date so far in his career
with the most recent one being the 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late
April and here are his other six: 2010 Memorial Tournament; 2010 AT&T
National; 2011 BMW Championship; 2012 WGC – Cadillac Championship; 2013 U.S.
Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship) and the 2014 Quicken Loans
National (He has won every year since 2010). He has also achieved seven wins to
date on the European Tour which his most recent being the 2014 Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish Open. He has also achieved eleven top ten finishes to
date so far in Major Championships that includes his win at the 2013 U.S. Open
Championship. He has also achieved ten top ten finishes in WGC – Events that
includes his win at the 2012 WGC – Cadillac Championship. He has also
represented Team Europe on three Ryder Cups Teams 2008, 2012 and 2014 which in
the last two Team Europe won. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in
the 2015/16 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season and win his eighth USPGA Tour
event. I wish him all the best for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
The final player to tie for second position was
Henrik Stenson (Sweden); he too earned US $618,750 for his efforts and finished
in ninth position on the final 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,755,070
earned from the sixteen events he played in this season. He also earned 867
FedEx Cup Playoffs Points for his efforts and finished in second position on
the final 2014/15 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 2,307 points
earned from the sixteen events he played in this season and also won US $3,000,000 of the FedEx Cup
Bonus Money. From the sixteen events he played in this season he made sixteen
cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes which included the one here. He will
be happy with his first round 63-7 which saw him lead by two shots and his 68-2
in the second round which saw him lead by three shots after 36 holes. But he
will be disappointed with his third and fourth rounds that were both 72+2s. And
those final two rounds prevented him from winning the 2014/15 FedEx Cup. But he
was one of the most consistent players during the playoffs with achieving three
second place finishes and a tied for tenth!! And he must have been the most
consistent player on the USPGA Tour in the 2014/15 season with making all
sixteen cuts from the sixteen events he entered and he certainly deserved to
win at least one tournament. Henrik
Stenson (Sweden) (born 5 April 1976) is a Swedish professional golfer
who plays both on the USPGA and European Tours. He has spent over 100 weeks
ranked in the World top ten and his career high ranking of second is the best
by any Swedish golfer. In July 2013, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) finished runner-up
at the 2013 Open Championship. That year he also moved up to third in the
Official World Golf Ranking, and he won the USPGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the
European Tour's Race to Dubai, thus becoming the first player to win both, and
to do so in the same season, a "historic double". Henrik Stenson
(Sweden) described his feat as a "double-double" because in the
process of winning these two seasonal points crowns, he also won the season
finales of both tours. Henrik
Stenson (Sweden) married fellow Swede Emma Löfgren in Dubai ten years after
meeting her at the University of South Carolina. In July 2007, his wife gave
birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Lisa. In 2010, the couple
had their second child, a son named Karl. They live in Lake Nona Golf &
Country Club in Orlando, Florida. In 2014, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) announced that
he had invested in PGA Sweden National, his first venture in golf course
ownership. He has won four events to date on the USPGA Tour so far and here
they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 WGC – Accenture Match Play
Championship, 2009 The PLAYERS Championship; 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship
and 2013 Tour Championship. He has also won nine events on the European Tour
with the most recent being the 2014 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. He has
also achieved nine top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far with
his best finish coming at the 2013 Open Championship which was solo second and
I feel he will become the first Swedish Golfer to win a Major Championship in
the next few years!! He has achieved six top ten finishes in WGC – Events which
includes his maiden win at the 2007 Cadillac Match Play Championship. Let’s
hope he can keep this form up for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season!!
I wish him all the best for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
The USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup Playoffs Series is now over
for the 2014/15 season. The 2015/16 USPGA Tour Season and FedEx Cup starts in
three weeks time in the State of California with the Frys.com Open and it is
played on the Silverado CC (North), Napa, California. It carries a
huge prize – purse of US $6,000,000 for the taking. Sang moon –Bae (South Korea)
is the defending champion but won’t be defending his title as he has just
commenced his two years of military service for the South Korean Army so there
will be a new Champion. Danny Lee (NZL) will properly sit this tournament out
because it is right after the Presidents Cup and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven
Alker (NZL) will be hoping to gain starts pending if they regain their 2015/16
USPGA Tour cards at the Web.com Tour Finals. It starts on Thursday 15th October
and I will report back who won the trophy in three weeks time.
So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list
standings this week and coming in at Number One Position for the fourth week of
his Career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Tour
Championship by Coca – Cola this past week and also winning the 2014/15 FedEx
Cup and the US $10,000,000 bonus and also his tied for thirteenth position at
the BMW Championship one week ago with 12.83 Official World Ranking Points; coming
in at Number Two is Jason Day (Australia) who is fresh off his tied for tenth
position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola this past week and also his
win one week ago at the BMW Championship with 12.74 Official World Ranking
Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) who is fresh off his tied
for sixteenth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola this past week
and his tied for fourth position at the BMW Championship one week ago with
11.52 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba
Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for fifth position at the Tour
Championship by Coca - Cola this past week and also his tied for tenth position
at the BMW Championship one week ago with 8.50 Official World Ranking Points
and rounding out the top five on the Official World Ranking Points list standings
this week is Rickie Fowler (USA) who is fresh off his tied for twelfth position
at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola this past week and also his tied for
fourth position at the BMW Championship one week ago with 8.05 Official World
Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his twentieth eighth week of
another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after
his tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola this past
week. This week he gains seventeen places and rises to thirty sixth position on
the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.86 Official Golf
World Ranking Points.
Remember when the greens are soft you can attack the pin!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com
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