Spieth Wins Hero World Challenge Going Away


Jordan Spieth fired his fourth straight round in the 60s and won the 18-player Hero World Challenge by a whopping 10 strokes. The 26-year-old from Dallas carded six birdies, an eagle on the par-5 seventh and a meaningless double-bogey on the 14th hole at Isleworth in Windermere, Fla., for his second victory in a week.

Spieth, who won the Australian Open last Sunday by six shots, finished at 26-under 262, 10 strokes ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who carded a 69, and 11 in front of Patrick Reed (68) and Keegan Bradley (70).

Spieth, who earned $1 million of the $3.5 million purse, said he especially had fun on the home half Sunday. "The back nine, I just tried to enjoy every single hole… It was the most fun I've ever had playing nine holes of golf."

As for what his future holds after such a great week with two victories, he added, "The expectations are just what I put on myself. I don't think they are necessarily a burden, I kind of just take them as being goals that I set for myself.

"My last goal - it didn't look like was going to be achieved for this year - was two wins. But going forward, 2015 could be exciting. It was nice to close out a couple of tournaments and shooting great scores doing so."

Tournament host, Tiger Woods, managed a final-round even-par 72 in his first event back since the PGA Championship in August. For the past four months he's been rehabilitating his surgically repaired back while implementing swing changes with new coach Chris Como.

Woods, who suffered from a fever and flu-like symptoms this week, was understandably impressed with Spieth. "This is impressive… He's playing some pretty special golf right now."

Ending up in fifth at 14-under 274 was Australia's Jason Day, who matched Spieth for the low round of the day with a 66, while tied for sixth 15 strokes behind the winner were Rickie Fowler (68) and Justin Rose (71).

Defending champion Zach Johnson had a 69 to rise into a tie for ninth at 279 with Billy Horschel (67) and Matt Kuchar (70), while another stroke back were Bubba Watson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who each had 71s.

Rounding out the leaderboard in 13th at 281 was Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (71), followed by Steve Stricker, Jimmy Walker and Chris Kirk. Woods and Hunter Mahan finished in last place at even-par 288. Mahan shot a 75 Sunday.

As for what it was like to return to tournament play, Woods said, "It feels good to feel that rush again… The good sign is that I played four straight days, was in no pain, and I was able to hit the golf ball as hard as I wanted to."

Woods is also hoping a return to health and the revamped swing bodes well for the future, though he realizes there's more work to be done. "As I change my full swing, my short game changes. My release pattern is different… I just need some time to rehearse it. From about 40 yards on out, it's really good, but inside of that it's not very good."

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