8 CLACKAMAS PRINT • APRIL 15.2015
Greenie wins green jacket
Sports editor Jack
Spencer takes
a look at the
accomplishment of
Jordan Spieth, the
second-youngest
golfer to ever win
b
the Masters
Past 10 years Masters champions
2015- Jordan Spieth (USA) -18
2014- Bubba Watson (USA) -8
2013- Adam Scott (AUS) -9
2012- Bubba Watson (USA) -10
2011- Chari Schwartzel (ZA) -14
2010- Phil Mickelson (USA) -16
20 0 9 - Angel Cabrera (ARG) -12
20 0 8 - Trevor Immelman (ZA) -8
2007- Zach Johnson (USA) +1
2 0 0 6 - Phil Mickelson (USA) -7
2005-Tlger Woods (USA) -12
Total score
270
280
279
278
274
272
276
280
289
281
276
by Jack Spencer
Since 1934, m illions of people
have put aside the first full week
o f April to relax and watch the
Masters. Though g olf may lack
the popularity of basketball or
football, sports fans gather to
see w ho w ill take hom e the
green jacket. Only 99 of the
best golfers in th e w o rld
qualified fo r an invitation
to this year’s Masters, and
the hunt for the unappeal
ing sport jacket left few
disappointed.
The M asters never
fails to produce excit
ing m om ents and sto
ries. From Tiger Woods’
slum p busting p e rfo r
mance to Jack Nicklaus
calling a hole in one then
backing up th at statement at
the par 3 contest, we’ve been
spoiled as an audience.’ However,
those stories pale in comparison to
the trium phs of 2015 Masters champion
Jordan Spieth.
Jordan Spieth was 3 years old when Tiger
Woods, at 21 years 3 months and 14 days,
won his first Masters in 1997. Woods set the
mark for youngest Masters winner ever. In
th a t same to urna m en t W oods also hap
pened to set the record for lowest score in
Illustration by Becca Moreno
Masters history w ith a 270.
On Sunday, Spieth’s age was 21 years 8 months and 16
days. He also shot a record tying 270 to take home his first
green jacket.
During the tim e of the 2014 Maste’rs tournam ent Spieth,
would not have been able to step foot In a bar here In Oregon.
In th a t tournam ent Spieth earned himself a second place
finish behind tw o-tim e Masters champion Bubba Watson.
three years prior, Spieth was an intricle part in the Univer
sity of Texas NCAA championship run, shortly after he turned
18. His play as of late has earned him the No. 2 spot in the
w orld behind Rory McIlroy, Spieth’s elder at 25.
These younger golfers seem to be dominating the game
today, but it may say something th a t the No. 1 player in the
w orld has never won a green jacket. The level of difficulty it
takes to win the Masters is incalculable to an everyday golfer,
and a victory at the Masters definitely holds its w eight when
talking about the best players in the world.
The level at which Spieth played throughout the tourna
ment lead him to make a push for just about every record the
Masters has to offer. He was the first w ire-to-wire champion
(hold the lead at the end of each of the four rounds) since
Raymond Floyd in 1976. He also holds record for lowest 36-
hole score in Masters history w ith a 130, as well as reaching
the lowest mark at any point in Masters history at 19 under par.
At 21, Spieth now stands beside names like Jack Nicklaus,
Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan as a Masters
champion and green jacket winner.
I w onder if the Masters told Spieth he’s only allowed to
keep his jacket fo r a year before they they take it and retire
it to a locker It’s probably for the best. At 21, he m ight wear
it out to a date, and not even the Masters winner looks good
in th a t jacket.