Spieth savours career highlight with runaway win in Australia
RISING star Jordan Spieth acknowledged the finest round of his nascent career after carding a course record 63 to romp to victory at the Australian Open yesterday.
The 21-year-old American, who was second at this year’s Masters, finished 13 under par in Sydney – six shots clear of his closest challenger, home favourite Rod Pampling.
Spieth tamed blustery conditions to record a flawless final round that featured eight birdies and had the prodigious Texan savouring a new career highlight.
“That was definitely the best round I’ve ever played,” he said after clinching his second professional title. “At the start I didn’t think such a round was out there, but the putts kept going in. It was an awesome experience.”
World No1 Rory McIlroy finished 15 shots behind Spieth, despite being just one off the lead at the tournament’s halfway point, after he followed Saturday’s disastrous 76 with a closing 72.
Pampling’s fellow Australians Brett Rumford and Greg Chalmers started the day level with Spieth but finished third and fourth respectively. All three were rewarded with places at next year’s Open at St Andrews.