Jordan Spieth declared his Emirates Australian Open success just seven days ago and some 3,300 miles away in Sydney as pivotal in storming to a 10-shot success in the Hero World Challenge in Windermere, Florida.
Dallas-born Spieth, 21 posted a final round 66 to win by an impressive 26-under par tally on the exclusive Isleworth course in suburban Orlando.
The new World No. 9 is an incredible 53-under par in his final three events of 2014 having ended at 14-under par in finishing third in the Japan Tour’s Dunlop Phoenix Open, 13-under par with his six shot success in the Australian Open and now 26-under in the Sunshine State.
Jordan Spieth insists his Australian Open success as pivotal in winning the 2014 Hero World Challenge. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
It’s little wonder Spieth now heads into 2015 as a serious threat to Rory McIlroy’s world domination.
And like McIlroy twelve months ago, it was victory in Sydney that Spieth will be hoping carries him, just like McIlroy in 2014, to Major’s glory in 2015.
“Winning last week in Australia was certainly biggest boost of confidence,” said Spieth.
“Winning also here at Isleworth when I was still in college and playing here twice was important because I wouldn’t know the golf course, especially on short notice. I didn’t get in until Tuesday late and then we just hit a few balls. I just saw the course in the Pro‑Am Wednesday.
“So I was very fortunate to have been here a couple times versus if we were already at Albany where it’s going next year. That would’ve been a difficult learning process to do quickly.
“But everything in my game was momentum coming off last week’s win in Sydney. That last round I felt like I really had things under control. There is a certain couple things that I had tendencies to do when I wasn’t closing it out. I fixed that this Australia and it worked, and I continued to do that when I felt pressure here this week and it worked here.
“So that’s great going forward. Yeah, I mean, obviously we would like to keep it rolling, but it’s going to be really nice to have some time at home. I’ve been on a lot of airplanes in the last five weeks and a lot of long flights.”
Spieth not only set a number of new Hero World Challenge records but he posted a four round total lower than the tournaments host best and that was Tiger Woods 25-under par victory tally in capturing the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship at Mt. Juliet in Ireland and just prior to Woods marriage.
Also Spieth lowered Woods 72-hole Hero Challenge record of 22-under par in 2007 by four shots while he also bettered Woods tournament winning margin of seven strokes also in 2007 by three shots.
And when this statistic was put to Spieth he responded: “Well, he plays a limited schedule at very difficult events, so it’s harder for him to get to ‑‑ it’s harder to get to 25‑under playing majors and tournaments that are won at 12‑under.
“Yeah, I’ve only been to I think 19‑under. Maybe reached 20 at one point in a tournament here or there, but never finished at 20 or more in relation to par.
“In general, this was the best that I’ve ever played, which is what I said in a media center in Sydney last week. I played better this week. This is the best I’ve played. Hopefully look back and continue to grow off this week.”
And while Spieth seems almost certain of defending his Australian Open title in 2015 he should be reminded it is roughly 3,500 miles from Sydney to the Bahamas where the Hero World Challenge is moving in 2015.
