Jordan Spieth fired a deafening warning salvo over the bow of current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy declaring he is determined to dethrone the Irishman as golf’s best player.
Spieth not only brilliantly matched McIlroy’s efforts this year in winning back-to-back on two different continents but if you add his third place three weeks ago in Japan in being 14-under par and then 13-under par in capturing the Australian Open in Sydney plus a remarkable 26-under in cruising to victory here at Isleworth then the 21-year old Dallas-born player is 53-under par in past three events.
The Texan became the youngest-ever Hero World Challenge champion and in the process Spieth also lowered Tiger Woods tournament record by four shots.
And while the event was not a fully sanctioned PGA Tour event Spieth produced a four-round total of 26-under par on Woods former home course that was a shot fewer than Woods all-time 72-hole low of 25-under par he produced in capturing the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship at Mt. Juliet.
It’s also six shots fewer than McIlroy’s PGA Tour four-round low of a pair of 20-under par totals in winning the back-to-back 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship and the BWW Championship.
Jordan Spieth roars his way to a 10-shot success in the Hero World Challenge. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Spieth headed home with his $US1m first prize cheque and a few days before moving into a new Dallas bachelor pad and he’ll emerge in a few week’s time with McIlroy’s No. 1 ranking clearly in his sights.
“When you see guys like Rory step up and become No. 1 in the world and win Major Championships, and he’s won four now, so for him to do that then that’s my goal,” said Spieth.
“Young guys like Russell Henry and Patrick Reed are not being afraid to win and that was really, really big for me when I first turned professional and seeing that.
“And that’s because these are guys, and not particularly Rory or Jason (Day), but Patrick, Russell and Harris (English) they are guys that I played within in amateur golf and briefly in junior golf.
“I felt like I could compete with those guys, and obviously now they’re winning PGA Tour events.
American sensation Jordan Spieth says he now wants Rory McIlroy’s World No. 1 ranking after winning the Hero World Challenge. (Photo – Anthony Powter/www.golffile.ie)
“So that gave me a lot of confidence when I first came out and since then, in order to take it to the next level and try and win majors, I got to look to Rory.
“Rory’s the youngest guy and the one with the most success. He’s No. 1 in the world and setting the bar. He’s the one we’re all chasing.”
While McIlroy singled out capturing the 2013 Australian Open in Sydney as pivotal to what he achieved this season in winning a further two Majors, a first WGC and the European Tour’s flagship event, it’s also not lost on Spieth what he could now achieve in 2015 as the reigning Australian Open winner.
“I did a good job of starting to chase Rory these last couple weeks but then that’s only really the beginning of what needs to happen for the ultimate goal, which is to overtake him,” said Spieth.
“That’s still a long way off and a lot of work has to be involved from now until then. But, the younger guys coming in and taking over Tiger’s spot at No. 1, can achieve this.”
And while McIlroy is targeting the 2015 Masters to join just five other players to have won the coveted Grand Slam one should remember that with just a few holes remaining Spieth led the 2014 Masters.
“I went to No. 7 in the world after Augusta, and remember hearing last week I moved from 14 to 11, and now I’m back to No. 9 so to crack the top 10, that’s a tremendous honour,” he said.
“Winning two tournaments and moving up five spots shows me exactly what it’ll take to try and get up to that No. 1 spot.
“So my 2015 will still focus on the Majors and the World Golf Championship, and that hasn’t changed based on the last couple weeks.”
