Jordan Spieth goes wire to wire for Masters title

Jordan Spieth went wire to wire, becoming the second-youngest Masters Tourna­ment champion today.

The 21-year-old Texan shot 70 en route to his first green jacket at Augusta Na­tional Golf Club. He tied the record for the lowest 72-hole tournament total at 18-under 270, becoming the first Texan to win the Masters since Ben Crenshaw in 1995.

During the week, Spieth became the youngest player to lead after 18 holes. He also set the Masters record for lowest 36-hole score (14-under-par 130). He backed that up with 70 on Saturday to set the 54-hole scoring record (16-under 200).

If that wasn’t enough, Spieth set the record for most birdies in a Masters with 28.

Spieth fended off playing partner Justin Rose, who posted 70 and finished at 14-under-par 274, tied with Phil Mickelson. Their total would have been good enough to win eight of the previous 10 Masters.

Three-time Masters champion Mickelson couldn’t make a move early, his highlight coming at No. 15 – a hole-out from the bunker for eagle. He finished second for the first time in Augusta with 69.

In his bid to complete the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy shot 66. He birdied the final hole to finish alone in fourth place – his best Masters finish.

Hideki Matsuyama tied with McIlroy for the day’s low round (66). He finished in fifth with an 11-under-par 277 total, becoming the lowest Japanese finisher since Toshi Izawa tied for fourth in 2001.

Ian Poulter shot 67 to tie for sixth at 9-under-par 279 with Paul Casey (68), Dustin Johnson (69), Hunter Mahan (67), Charley Hoffman (74) and Zach Johnson (68).

In his return to golf after a two-month absence, Tiger Woods closed with 73 for a 5-under-par 283 total and a tie for 17th place. Woods hit a hidden tree root in the pine straw right of the ninth fairway, causing him to wince in pain. He didn’t hit his first fairway until he reached the par-5 13th, where he made an eagle.

Spieth opened the final round with a four-shot lead over Rose. After Rose made birdie at the first, Spieth answered with an 11-foot birdie putt of his own.

Spieth took a five-shot lead into the back nine. If the tournament was ever in doubt, Spieth locked up the green jacket at the par-5 13th hole. Holding a four-shot lead over Mickelson at the time, Spieth hit his approach from 208 yards to 14 feet. He two-putted for birdie to move to 18-under for a five-shot lead with five to play.

Later, Spieth birdied the par-5 15th hole to become the first player in Masters history to get to 19-under for the tournament. He dropped a shot on No. 18 to go back to 18-under.