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A20 SPORTS
Monday 24 July 2017

Jordan’s wild journey: Spieth wins British Open

By DOUG FERGUSON ing kick like Phelps, the go-
AP Golf Writer ahead jumper like Jordan.
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) Spieth hit 6-iron to the 14th
— During one of Jordan that landed in front of
Spieth’s many low points the flag and came within
Sunday in the British Open, inches of an ace, leading
his caddie reminded him to a short birdie putt to re-
of a photo from a Mexico gain the lead. On the par-5
beach holiday two weeks 15th, he rolled in a 50-foot
ago that showed him in eagle putt and playfully
All-Star company that in- barked at caddie Michael
cluded Michael Phelps and Greller to pick it out of the
Michael Jordan. cup. “Go get that,” he
The message: “You belong said, pointing to the hole.
in that group.” And he wasn’t done.
Spieth left little doubt with Spieth rolled in a 30-foot
a closing performance that putt across the 16th green
ranks among the greatest for a two-shot lead, and
finishes in major champion- he kept that margin by
ship history. pouring in a 7-foot putt to
Trailing for the first time all match birdies with Kuchar.
weekend at Royal Birkdale The final putt for par was a
— and lucky it was only one Jordan Spieth of the United States lines up a putt on the 14th green during the final round of the tap-in, as easy a shot as he
stroke thanks to a shot from British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, Sunday July 23, 2017. had all day.
the driving range — the (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) “To follow that bogey on
23-year-old Texan followed And it all started in a spot hole that it sailed some 75 which allowed him to go 13 with great golf shots and
with a birdie-eagle-birdie- so dire it looked as though yards from the fairway and back in a straight line from great putts, and play the
birdie stretch that allowed he would endure another settled in thick grass on a the flag until he was on the final five holes in 5-under
him to close with a 1-under major meltdown. dune so steep he could range among the equip- par, I was just very happy
69 and win the British Open The break of the tourna- hardly stand up, let alone ment trucks. After getting for him and very impressed
by three shots over Matt ment — and a moment take a swing. The only free relief from them, he still to watch all that guts, de-
Kuchar. that will rate alongside smart option was to take a faced a blind shot over the termination and skill,” Jack
Spieth captured the third Seve Ballesteros making one-shot penalty for an un- dunes to a hole littered by Nicklaus posted on Face-
leg of the career Grand birdie from the car park playable lie. pot bunkers. He hit 3-iron book.
Slam and heads to the PGA when he won at Royal And that’s when Spieth just short of a bunker near Spieth and Jack Nicklaus
Championship next month Lytham & St. Annes in 1979 showed his golfing brain is the green , pitched over it are the only players to win
with a chance to be the — was when Spieth discov- as valuable as any club in to about 7 feet and made three different majors at
youngest to win them all. ered the range was part of his bag. what he considers the most age 23.
“This is as much of a high the course. He had the presence to important putt of the day “This is a dream come true
as I’ve ever experienced in His tee shot was so far to ask if the driving range was to escape with bogey. for me,” Spieth said, gazing
my golfing life,” Spieth said. the right on the par-4 13th out of bounds. It wasn’t, And then came the finish- at his name on the silver
claret jug. “Absolutely a
dream come true.”
‘It’s crushing’: For so much of Sunday, it
felt like a recurring night-
Kuchar rocked by Spieth’s late rally at Birkdale mare. Just 15 months ago,
Spieth lost a five-shot lead
on the back nine at the
Masters, coming undone
By STEVE DOUGLAS those top-10 finishes. done.’” Kuchar was mag- “It’s hard to explain,” with a quadruple-bogey
AP Sports Writer In the end, and without do- nanimous as ever after Kuchar said, pausing to find 7 on the 12th hole. It was
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ing much wrong, he was seeing the British Open title the words. “It’s crushing. ... more of a slow bleed at
— Matt Kuchar felt as if he a bystander to one of the wrested away from him by You work so hard to get to Royal Birkdale, with three
had the claret jug in his greatest shows in golf his- Jordan Spieth, who played this position. And to have bogeys on the opening
grasp. He said he could tory. the final five holes in 5 un- a chance to make history four holes and four putts in-
taste victory, finally break- “All you can really do,” der at Royal Birkdale to win and win a championship. side 8 feet that he missed
ing through in a major Kuchar said, “is sit back, by three shots. But this one You don’t get that many on the front nine to fall into
championship after all tip your cap and say, ‘Well really hurt. opportunities.”q a tie with Kuchar. q