It’s Jordan Spieth’s world and right now every other pro golfer is just living in it.
Once again Spieth commands the spotlight in golf as he routed the winners only field at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
Spieth played such solid golf you would have thought that it was April and he was prepped for The Masters. But it’s not, it is only January and it is the first tournament of 2016.
Yes, it’s not a major nor is it a full field event but it is an important win no matter. It’s important because the 33 man field was made up of only PGA Tour winners from last year.
It is important because six of the world’s top ten golfers were there to challenge him. It is important because of the way he won with a eight shot margin of victory as he was pulling away from his fellow tour pros.
Consider this: Spieth led the field in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, Strokes Gained Putting, Strokes Gained Total, Putts Per Greens in Regulation and five other assorted statistical categories this week.
And this was from a golfer who admitted that he neglected his short game the past month.
The comparisons to Tiger Woods continue, Woods and Spieth are the only two modern day players to win seven PGA events before they turned twenty-three.
But Spieth will have none of it. “It’s awful early to compare…but it’s nice to be in that company” the ever humble Spieth protested.
Part of the joy of watching Spieth work his way around the course is that when he does hit a poor shot (not too many this week) or miss a fairway he relishes the challenge in the next shot. The Tiger comparisons are natural but on the course while he isn’t the gambler that Phil Mickelson is, he certainly is a similar strategist.
Each shot is discussed with his able caddie Michael Greller as Phil does with Bones Mackay. He thinks his way through each challenging shot and rarely chooses the easy route and always seems to execute that tough shot.
Spieth’s opening victory is a decree not only to his challengers but to Spieth himself.
To his fellow pros he is saying “Here I am, I’m back and winning already.”
And to himself he is just starting to answer the challenge he laid out at last season’s end, “Can I repeat 2015.”
Spieth said he was looking at 2016 as a continuation of 2015 not a new season at all. Since his five win, two major, Grand Slam Chase season was called by many one of the best in the history of the game that is a man sized challenge.
But Spieth couldn’t have started the season, whether it be new or a continuation, any better than he has.
It was a statement victory and Spieth may be too humble to mouth the words but it says this…I am the best golfer in the world, I am trying to top last season…Come and get me.”
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