Spectacular Spieth claims first Texas title

Jordan Spieth birdied the last three holes at Colonial Country Club to win the Dean & Deluca Invitational, his first PGA Tour title in his home State of Texas.

Jordan Spieth opened with nine straight pars in the final round at Colonial. That slow start let hometown favourite Ryan Palmer take the lead. He moved to 14-under after two opening birdies and a further gain at the 7th. But Palmer cooled after that and two bogeys were countered with just one more birdie. He finished tied third with Webb Simpson.

Spieth pressed the accelerator pedal at the start of the back nine with three straight birdies. Although he dropped a shot at the 13th, he saved par on the 14th then picked up a birdie on the 16th. On the 17th his tee shot looked destined for trouble, but bounced off a marshal’s leg and avoided the thickest rough. After firing his approach through the green, Spieth then chipped in for another birdie. A further birdie on the closing hole sealed the victory for Spieth.

3 Talking points from the Dean & Deluca Invitational

1 – The win may have been Spieth’s first in the Lone Star State, but it was his eighth career PGA Tour title. Aged 22 years and 10 months, spectacular Spieth now has more PGA Tour titles before his 23rd birthday than Tiger Woods managed. Picking up $1.2 million, Spieth has now earned more than $24 million on the PGA Tour in just four years on the circuit. Less than two months after his back nine collapse at Augusta, Spieth was back in the winner’s circle. On the 10th hole at Colonial on Sunday, a shout from the gallery came, “Remember the Masters Jordan. Remember the Masters.” Spieth heard it and responded accordingly with three straight birdies. “There’s a little red-ass in me – and it came out on the next few holes,” he said.

Jordan Spieth putting drill:

2 – Harris English moved into a two-shot lead with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes. He dropped back with a bogey at the 12th and wasn’t able to record another birdie on the run in. Still, finishing solo second, English picked up over $700,000 and recorded his first top-10 finish since February. “I felt like I played some really good golf and hit some good shots,” English said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but obviously Spieth did some pretty spectacular stuff coming down the stretch.”

3 – Ryan Palmer is a member at Colonial and he was aiming to join Ben Hogan as the only other Colonial member to win the tournament. He had tremendous support from the galleries but he just couldn’t quite get it done, his putter letting him down on the run for home. Palmer ended the tournament tied third with Webb Simpson. “I hung in there, just unfortunately the putts didn’t fall for me,” he said. “But I’m proud to represent Colonial, the city of Fort Worth and I’m excited for Jordan to be the champion. I know I’m going to have another chance to win one day.”

Dean & Deluca Invitational Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas May 26-29 Purse $6,700,000, par 70

1    Jordan Spieth (USA)    67    66    65    65    263    $1,206,000 2    Harris English (USA)    67    69    64    66    266    $723,600 T3    Ryan Palmer (USA)    66    67    66    68    267    $388,600 T3    Webb Simpson (USA)    65    67    67    68    267    $388,600 5    Kyle Reifers (USA)    66    67    67    68    268    $268,000 T6    Jason Dufner (USA)    66    69    66    70    271    $216,913 T6    Matt Kuchar (USA)    73    67    63    68    271    $216,913 T6    Anirban Lahiri (Ind)    65    70    68    68    271    $216,913 T6    Martin Piller (USA)    66    66    68    71    271    $216,913 T10    Chad Campbell (USA)    69    72    68    63    272    $167,500 T10    Kevin Kisner (USA)    71    66    69    66    272    $167,500 T10    Bryce Molder (USA)    64    69    70    69    272    $167,500

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage