Experts, media and his peers have been frantically searching for adjectives after Jordan Spieth’s victory at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii last week, and the manner in which he achieved it.
To shoot 30-under par for four rounds, even if it came on a pitch-and-putt course instead of the Plantation Course at Kapalua, is amazing. To beat an elite field comprising only the champions of the previous season by eight shots is downright ridiculous.
Spieth made mincemeat of the par-5s, going 16-under par for the week with 12 birdies, two eagles and two pars. But even more astonishing was the fact that he averaged 3.7 for the par-4s. Usually, in the majority of wins, players play par-4s to just a shade under-par.
Some of the stats have blown our minds, but the essence of his domination was captured perfectly by Butch Harmon, who said: “He led the Tour in putts made from 20-25 feet (in 2015). At one time, he was making 33 per cent of his putts from 20-25 feet. Even Nicklaus and Tiger, the two greatest pressure putters we’ve ever seen, weren’t doing that.”
At the Plantation course, where the average winning score before Spieth single-handedly changed it, was approximately 20-under par. Rounds of 66, 64, 65 and 67, on a par-73 course included stunning putts of 46 feet (on the second hole on Saturday) and a 35-footer on the same hole the next day, and six others from outside 25 feet. All this just raises the interest level in next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship by several notches.
That’s when a red-hot Spieth takes on Rory McIlroy, who is also eager to start his season in Spieth-like fashion.
On Wednesday, reports claimed CocaCola have signed up Spieth in what is being called one of their biggest ever sponsorship deals with an athlete. The figures were not revealed. This comes after Golf Digest’s annual list of earnings, where Spieth ended Woods’ reign on top for 12 successive years. The magazine estimated Spieth to be the No. 1 earner in 2015 at $53 million, followed by Phil Mickelson at $52.3 million and Woods at No. 3 with $48.5m (thanks to nearly $48m in endorsements). Rory McIlroy was fourth at $46m.
The first golf rivalry of 2016 doesn’t feature Spieth and McIlroy, nor Spieth and Jason Day. It involves a certain Donald Trump and Hollywood superstar Samuel L Jackson.
It all started when Jackson claimed in a recent interview that he was a better golfer than the Republican front-runner for Presidential candidate because he did not cheat on the golf course. Jackson also said he was also charged a membership fee at Trump National Golf Club, despite not being a member.
That got Trump’s attention, and this is how the two exchanged tweets after that: Trump: “I don’t know @SamuelLJackson, to best of my knowledge haven’t played golf w/him & think he does too many TV commercials – boring. Not a fan.”
C'mon @realDonaldTrump you played Golf with @SamuelLJackson and me as well. we also had lunch together! shrimp and hot dogs. sound familiar?
— Anthony Anderson (@anthonyanderson) January 5, 2016Another Hollywood actor, Anthony Anderson, reacted: “C’mon @realDonaldTrump you played Golf with @SamuelLJackson and me as well. We also had lunch together! Shrimp and hot dogs. Sound familiar?”
While some would have questioned their horrible choice of lunch, it continued. Trump: “Don’t like @SamuelLJackson’s golf swing. Not athletic. I’ve won many club championships. Play him for charity!”
Trump again: “I don’t cheat at golf but @SamuelLJackson cheats – with his game, he has no choice— and stop doing commercials!”
Jackson had the last laugh, though, he posted a picture of the bill sent to him by Trump National, a tweet that was subsequently removed because it showed Jackson’s home address.
I am in Kuala Lumpur this week, attending the second edition of the EurAsia Cup between Asia and Europe in a semi-official capacity.
As a long-time friend of the Asian captain, I am doubling up as Jeev Milkha Singh’s speechwriter for the tournament as well. That has given me access and some interesting insight into the life of a captain.
I spent an hour in Singh’s company on Wednesday, and it was madness. First of all, it was funny to see him walking with a diary. He also kept taking copious amount of notes. The phone would go off every now and then, and the radio crackled continuously in his ear.
Among other things, he had a discussion regarding possible pairings, confirmed the dinner menu for the team meeting and discussed the team photoshoot. He also managed to squeeze in some suggestions to his wife Kudrat regarding a couple of events planned for wives and girlfriends.
Singh admitted: “This much preparation would have won me a few majors!”
