Jordan Spieth smashes record in epic win at Augusta

ByEurosport

Updated 13/04/2015 at 07:23 GMT

Jordan Spieth produced one of the greatest performances in Major championship history as he fired a final round 70 to win the Masters at Augusta by four shots.

Last years champion Bubba Watson helps Jordan Spieth put on the Green Jacket of the 2015 Masters Champion at the 79th Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2015, in Augusta, Georgia (AFP)

Image credit: AFP

Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson finished tied for second place after a stunning afternoon of golf which will send shockwaves through the sport.

Rose's total of -14 has been bettered only five times in the tournament's history, but the Englishman found himself four shots behind a 21-year-old superstar in the making whose display was every bit as impressive - if not more so - than Tiger Woods' record-breaking victory back in 1997.

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It was only fitting, then, that both Spieth and Woods finished at -18, and will share the record for both scoring and winning at the age of 21 - though Woods was five months younger as he won 18 years ago.

"It was very nerve wracking today," Spieth, the second youngest Masters winner after Woods, said before being helped into the coveted green jacket by last year's Masters champion, American Bubba Watson.

"I thought today might be a little easier than yesterday, having played with the lead, but it wasn't. I didn't sleep well last night.

"It's the most incredible week of my life."

Jordan Spieth of the U.S. watches his drive off the second tee as Justin Rose of Britain (R) prepares to hit during final round play of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia April 12, 2015

Image credit: Р-Спорт

Only Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Ray Floyd and Tiger Woods - twice - had finished at -16 or better at Augusta, but Spieth put their records in the shade on what is now a far longer golf course with a magnificent display of controlled golf, blazingly accurate iron play, and putting that was at times hard to believe.

The 11th hole provided a perfect example as the Texan, after a wild tee shot into the woods, hit a low shot under branches and almost 200 yards up to the fringe of the green, before chipping to within a few feet and rescuing par from a seemingly hopeless situation.

But never was his class shown better than on the 16th hole when Rose narrowly missed a birdie putt, and Spieth holed an 11ft effort for par after a weak chip shot. What looked a possible two-shot swing did not happen, and from there on in there was no question about who would win the tournament.

Mickelson and Rose both moved within striking distance during the day, with Rose getting within three shots with a miraculous par on the 7th as nerves seemed to get to Spieth with a second bogey in three holes.

But each time they closed the gap Spieth seemed able to respond as he set a new record for the tournament with 28 birdies.

Mickelson

Rory McIlroy finished in fourth place at -12 after a sparkling round of 66, matching the best of the day, while Tiger Woods shot a closing 73 that nonetheless capped off a fine and hugely-encouraging return to the game after a two-month break.

"I played well," said McIlroy, who had been bidding for a career grand slam of the four Majors. "Obviously very happy with how the weekend went.

"Jordan obviously started off fantastically well, and has just kept his foot down, really impressive. It's great for the game, and I'm sure he'll win many more (majors)."

Tiger Woods, 2015 Masters

Image credit: Reuters

McIlroy could have gone even lower than 66 and perhaps even challenged the course record of 63 had he not missed several early chances.

Mickelson, too, was left to rue missed chances as bogeys on the 5th and 9th holes ended up costing him the chance of getting closer to the winner.

A holed bunker shot for an eagle on the 15th was his highlight, but when his effort to birdie the 16th from the sand a few minutes later burned the edge of the cup, it was clear he would not win a fourth Green Jacket.

9-year-old

Instead, with Rose unable to make further headway on an afternoon in which he was uncharacteristically wayward at times, the way was clear for Spieth to come home and right the wrongs of last year, when he lost a two-shot lead on the final afternoon as a Masters rookie.

Just as McIlroy put right his failure to win the 2011 Masters by claiming the US Open a few months later, so Spieth has exorcised his demons - and confirmed that he is the game's next titan.

Woods' fall from prominence seemed likely to leave McIlroy on his own as the game's towering figure over the next few years. Now, it seems instead that McIlroy and Spieth will end up sharing one of the game's great rivalries over the next decade or more.