Page 20 - Aruba Today
P. 20
20 eth spoke of being tired in for seventh in his last seven
Abu Dhabi, which fueled events dating to Septem-
SPORTSWednesday 10 February opinions that he was chas- ber, the longest such streak
ing appearance money of his young career.
Spieth instead of preparing to win Spieth never looked at
another green jacket. 2016 as a new year, rath-
Continued from Page 17 Winning five times on the er a continuation of the
PGA Tour, including two year before. But given the
A year ago, he was No. 9 in In this Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, file photo, Jordan Spieth, of the majors, and reaching No. schedule, it’s easy to break
the world and still had only United States, tees off on the third hole during the third round 1 in the world inevitably this year into sections.
one PGA Tour victory on his of the SMBC Singapore Open golf tournament at Sentosa Golf comes with a bull’s-eye on First up was Hawaii and
ledger. Club’s Serapong Course in Singapore. his back. And it probably then a pair of trips over-
Now he’s the Masters and got even bigger when Spi- seas (Abu Dhabi and Sin-
U.S. Open champion who Associated Press eth started the new year gapore). Next up is the first
last year made the most with an eight-shot victory critical chunk of the season,
spirited run at the Grand “Honestly, it’s something I eth this year is being a tar- at Kapalua in which he which starts at the Pebble
Slam since Jack Nicklaus in have not gotten used to,” get for the other players, became only the second Beach Pro-Am. Spieth is
1972. He is the 22-year-old Spieth said. “Who knows and the scrutiny he now player in PGA Tour history playing four of the next five
who earned $22 million last how long it will take? It faces from the press and to reach 30-under par in a weeks and seven of the
year, including his bonus makes you appreciate the public. 72-hole event. next nine events through
for winning the FedEx Cup. some of these other guys He already is getting more Spieth, however, saw that the Masters. Five weeks into
He is the first American who have gone before you attention than he wants for as easing the burden. the year, no one has really
since Tiger Woods to reach and have been able to do his global travels over the “It was the first one of the asserted himself as a seri-
the top of the world rank- it.” last four months — South year, all the questions of a ous challenger.
ing. Fame among fans is one Korea, Shanghai, Australia, new year ... and then ac- Rickie Fowler is off to his
And he has his own bobble thing. the Bahamas, Hawaii, Abu tually going out and get- best start with a victory in
head, which corporate The real challenge for Spi- Dhabi and Singapore. Spi- ting the job done, that was Abu Dhabi and a playoff
partner AT&T is giving away big,” he said. “That was the loss Sunday in the Phoenix
to the first 8,000 fans Satur- only PGA Tour event I’ve Open, which was his tour-
day. played, and that’s where nament to win until he lost
Fans tried to follow him I’m most comfortable play- a two-shot lead with two
onto the fairways and ing, where I play my best holes to play. But even
were waiting for him as he golf. So it’s still real early.” Fowler has said he won’t
walked off the green. Spi- It also helps that he has fin- be considered part of the
eth finally asked if the self- ished no worse than a tie elite until he wins a major.q
ies could wait until after he
was done.
