While Tiger Woods struggled in his return from a four-month layoff, it was Jordan Spieth whose overpowering Hero World Challenge victory revived memories of his fellow American in his prime.
The 21-year-old, coming off an Australian Open triumph a week earlier, fired a six-under par 66 to complete a wire-to-wire triumph in the 18-player event at Isleworth.
Spieth’s 26-under 262 total and his victory margin of 10 strokes over Swedish world No2 Henrik Stenson were both tournament records, his score in relation to par one not even Woods has matched over 72 holes.
“This is the best I’ve ever played, which is what I said in Sydney last week,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll look back and continue to get better.”
Spieth, a runner-up at this year’s Masters who led late before falling to Bubba Watson, is showing form to rival world No1 Rory McIlroy, who would complete a career grand slam and win his third consecutive major title by taking the green jacket next April at Augusta National.
“To take it to the next level, to win a major, I’ve got to look to Rory,” Spieth added. “He’s the one we’re all chasing. I did a good job of beginning that chase the past couple weeks.”
Spieth said in Australia he was “far, far away” from the level of McIlroy, this year’s Open and PGA Championship winner, but he feels he has closed the gap – “now just far away.”
Spieth will be the same age then as Woods was in 1997 when winning his first major at the Masters, but the latest US prodigy played down any notion he might be the “next Tiger,” stressing a first major win and McIlroy’s top ranking are his targets.
“I understand that when I’m out here and I’m one of the young guys, people want to see somebody come up and do what Tiger did and change a generation of golf,” Spieth said. “That’s not necessarily what I’m out here to do. I’m out here to try and win each tournament I’m in. If you happen to win majors, which is the ultimate goal, then great.
“But right now I look at Rory, what he did this year, and I’m trying to chase him more than I am anything else.”
