Jordan Spieth captivates the world

A special feature by Anand Datla

April 14, 2015: Spare yourself the shock and surprise. You are not alone, if you are still wondering about the fact that Jordan Spieth is just 21 years old. Much of the golfing world is still in awe of the young man’s mightily impressive accomplishments this past week. He was breaking records and blazing a trail as he waltzed from one round to the next with a rare degree of assurance. But for the bogey at the final hole, Spieth may have shot the lowest winning score at the Masters.

But that is far from enough to tell you the story. Over the past month, Spieth has been showing up in the final pairing with alarming regularity. Even so, it took a staggering 64 in the first round at Augusta to bring the focus back on him. From there, the 79th Masters seemed destined to be the coronation procession of an extraordinary golfer.

Playing like a wise man, who was far more than just 21, Spieth drove straight and narrow with laser like precision. He was putting most of the week as though it is all he was born to day. The putter felt like an inseparable extension of his own arm. His game drew effusive praise from his peers, something that does not come easy in the world of professional sport.

“He’s very impressive. The strongest part of his game is his putting and pitching. He hits a lot of fairways and greens but his putting really stands out,” averred Henrik Stenson, his playing partner through the first two rounds. “He’s made so many great putts over the last couple of days, even the really hard Augusta putts, he’s been rolling them in.

“That’s why he’s so far ahead and living up to expectations,” underlined a clearly impressed Stenson. “He’s got an old head on young shoulders because he’s playing very sensibly, very maturely. When he does make a mistake, he hits a great recovery shot.”

Darren Clarke wasn’t even sure if the field was playing the same course as Spieth. “I don’t know what course Jordan is playing but it’s not the same one I’m playing. Wow,” purred Clarke when asked to reflect on the dominant show put on by the new world No.2

The media was happy to invite a new star into a frame that was struggling with a drying reservoir of stars and a seemingly interminable decline facing Tiger Woods. The remarkable victory of Spieth over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose this weekend set the tone for a rivalry that could herald yet another golden phase in the game.

Many have begun to believe that Rory McIlroy and Spieth could combine to propel golf to greater heights in the time to come. It remains to be seen how long Spieth can sustain his sizzling hot form, but while he does, the American does seem peerless.