Spectacular Spieth walks away with Australian Open

Monday, 1 December 2014 01:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters:Rising American talent Jordan Spieth shot the round of his life for an eight-under-par 63 as his rivals laboured in the Sydney wind to claim his second professional title by six strokes at the Australian Open on Sunday. The Texan, who shared second place on his U.S. Masters debut in April, fired eight birdies in a flawless final round to secure the Stonehaven Cup at 13-under 271 for the tournament at The Australian Golf Club. The A$1.25 million ($1.06 million) tournament had been billed as a duel between world number one Rory McIlroy and number three Adam Scott but 21-year-old Spieth stole the show with his stunning final round. The world number 14 was the youngest Australian Open champion since Aaron Baddeley won his second title as a teenager in 2000 and the first American since Brad Faxon in 1993, when Spieth was just a few months old.

“I didn’t think the round was out there but the putts just kept going in,” Spieth said in the greenside presentation. “It’s the best round I’ve ever played, the best win I’ve ever had, it’s pretty awesome.” Spieth’s final round score was a record on the newly-reconfigured course but a better indication of its quality was that only seven other players finished under par for the tournament. Australian Rod Pampling hit a 68 for second place, a shot better than compatriot Brad Rumford (70) in third with another local Greg Chalmers (71) in fourth on five-under. All three secured berths at next year’s British Open at St Andrews. Scott (71) was fifth on four under, while defending champion McIlroy, whose victory at the Royal Sydney last year provided a springboard for his stellar 2014, finished 15 shots off the pace in a share of 15th after a 72. Starting the day in a three-way tie for the lead at five-under, Spieth quickly eased ahead of his rivals with his first birdie at the third. After parring the fourth, he really put his foot on the gas and drained birdie putts of 10, five and 15 feet on the next three holes to open up a gap of four shots over the field. There were no more birdies -- but crucially in the difficult conditions no bogeys -- until the 14th but that started another strong run and he picked up three more shots on the run-in.