Jordan Spieth celebrates after completing the 18th hole to win the Masters.(Photo: Michael Madrid, USA TODAY Sports)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Eighteen years after 21-year-old Tiger Woods torched Augusta National Golf Club to win his first Masters, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth did likewise.
Spieth held his nerve at critical junctures in Sunday's final round and remained firmly in control throughout to win the 79th edition of the season's first major championship.
Woods won by 12 shots and shot 18-under 270, Spieth won by four shots and matched Woods with an 18-under 270. He closed with a final-round 2-under 70, reaching an all-time record 19 under with a birdie on the par-5 15th but dropping back to 18 under with a bogey on the final hole.
Spieth becomes the second-youngest Masters champ behind Woods.
Three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson and 2013 U.S. Open champ Justin Rose tied for second at 14 under.
"It's awfully impressive," said world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who finished fourth. "It's nice to get your major tally up and running at an early stage in your career. It's great to see, great for the game, and I'm sure there will be many more."
Spieth became the first wire-to-wire winner at the Masters since Raymond Floyd in 1976, and this might have been even more special. Craig Wood in 1941 is the only other Masters champion who led by at least three shots from first round to last.
Starting the day four shots clear of the field, Spieth began his procession with a birdie at the first to keep his nearest pursuer, Rose, four shots back after he opened with a birdie of his own. Rose followed with another birdie at the second — while Spieth three-putted from the fringe for a par — and cut the lead to three. He never got closer. No one else did, either.
Under ominous skies, Spieth, who finished in a tie for second last year in his first Masters, grabbed control with an opening 64 on Thursday, followed with a 66 Friday to set a Masters record for lowest score after 36 holes, then added a 70 to set another scoring record after 54 holes.
Mickelson holed a shot from the bunker on the 15th for eagle to move within four shots. But last-gasp efforts on 16, 17 and 18 came up short and he finished with a 69.
Tiger Woods, whose last of four wins here came in 2005, was playing for the first time in nine weeks after taking a hiatus from the game to try and find his game. His chipping woes have vanished but he didn't hit a fairway on the front nine Sunday and closed with a 73. He finished in a tie for 17th at 5 under.
Defending champion and two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson shot 74 to wind up 1 over for the tournament and deep down the leaderboard.
McIlroy, who had a chance to become the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam and was trying to win his third consecutive major, never really got into the thick of contention. His weekend was superb — he was 10 under the last two rounds — and he finished at 12 under.
Contributing: The Associated Press
GALLERY: SUNDAY AT THE MASTERS
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Eighteen years after 21-year-old Tiger Woods torched Augusta National Golf Club to win his first Masters, 21-year-old Jordan Spieth did likewise.
Spieth held his nerve at critical junctures in Sunday's final round and remained firmly in control throughout to win the 79th edition of the season's first major championship.
Woods won by 12 shots and shot 18-under 270, Spieth won by four shots and matched Woods with an 18-under 270. He closed with a final-round 2-under 70, reaching an all-time record 19 under with a birdie on the par-5 15th but dropping back to 18 under with a bogey on the final hole.
Spieth becomes the second-youngest Masters champ behind Woods.
Three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson and 2013 U.S. Open champ Justin Rose tied for second at 14 under.
"It's awfully impressive," said world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who finished fourth. "It's nice to get your major tally up and running at an early stage in your career. It's great to see, great for the game, and I'm sure there will be many more."
Spieth became the first wire-to-wire winner at the Masters since Raymond Floyd in 1976, and this might have been even more special. Craig Wood in 1941 is the only other Masters champion who led by at least three shots from first round to last.
Starting the day four shots clear of the field, Spieth began his procession with a birdie at the first to keep his nearest pursuer, Rose, four shots back after he opened with a birdie of his own. Rose followed with another birdie at the second — while Spieth three-putted from the fringe for a par — and cut the lead to three. He never got closer. No one else did, either.
Under ominous skies, Spieth, who finished in a tie for second last year in his first Masters, grabbed control with an opening 64 on Thursday, followed with a 66 Friday to set a Masters record for lowest score after 36 holes, then added a 70 to set another scoring record after 54 holes.
Mickelson holed a shot from the bunker on the 15th for eagle to move within four shots. But last-gasp efforts on 16, 17 and 18 came up short and he finished with a 69.
Tiger Woods, whose last of four wins here came in 2005, was playing for the first time in nine weeks after taking a hiatus from the game to try and find his game. His chipping woes have vanished but he didn't hit a fairway on the front nine Sunday and closed with a 73. He finished in a tie for 17th at 5 under.
Defending champion and two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson shot 74 to wind up 1 over for the tournament and deep down the leaderboard.
McIlroy, who had a chance to become the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam and was trying to win his third consecutive major, never really got into the thick of contention. His weekend was superb — he was 10 under the last two rounds — and he finished at 12 under.
Contributing: The Associated Press
GALLERY: SUNDAY AT THE MASTERS
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