'Texas Boy' Spieth "Revival Shot in Hometown"..."After 3 Years and 9 Months~"

Ballet Finishes Texas Open Final Day at 6 Under Par for 2-Stroke Victory, Hoffman 2nd, Kim Siwoo Tied 23rd

Jordan Spieth is taking a commemorative photo right after winning the Valero Texas Open. San Antonio, Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Revival shot in hometown."

‘Texas Boy’ Jordan Spieth (USA) collected a winner's trophy for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. On the 5th (Korean time), at the San Antonio Golf Club (par 72, 7,435 yards) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, Spieth added 6 under par on the final day of the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open (total prize money $7.7 million) to secure a 2-stroke victory (18 under par 270). This marks his 12th career win, following the 2017 Open Championship in July, with a winner's prize of $1,386,000 (approximately 1.565 billion KRW).

Spieth started tied for the lead, recording 7 birdies and 1 bogey. He had a strong start with consecutive birdies on holes 2 and 3, and although he missed the green on the 4th hole (par 4) resulting in his only bogey, he recovered with ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 6 and 8. He added 3 more birdies on holes 12, 14, and 17 in the back nine. Especially significant was the birdie on the 17th hole (par 3), where Charlie Hoffman (USA), who was one stroke behind, was chasing him. From 73 yards out, Spieth landed the ball close to the hole and easily sank a 1.2-meter birdie putt.

Spieth was once the ‘former world No. 1.’ He gained attention as the ‘post-Tiger’ after winning the US Junior Amateur twice, and when he won his first John Deere Classic in July 2013, he set a remarkable record as the first teenage champion in 82 years since Ralph Guldahl (Santa Monica Open, 1931) at 19 years, 11 months, and 18 days old. Notably, in 2015, he swept 5 wins in the season including back-to-back major victories at the Masters in April and the US Open in June.

Jordan Spieth cheers after making a birdie on the 17th hole during the final day of the Valero Texas Open. San Antonio, Texas, USA - Photo by AFP

He finished tied for 4th by one stroke at the Open Championship in July, missing out on a ‘three consecutive major wins’ for the first time in 62 years since Ben Hogan (USA) in 1953, which was a disappointment. When he won the Open Championship in 2017, he became the youngest player to win three majors at 23 years and 11 months, after Jack Nicklaus (USA, 23 years 6 months). This was faster than ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods’ three major wins in 2000 at 24 years and 6 months. It is surprising that he had been without a title for the past four years.

Spieth admitted, "I did not treat my injured wrist in time in 2018, which ruined my swing." Fortunately, he has shown signs of revival recently, entering the top 10 four times in the last six tournaments. This comeback comes ahead of the Masters. He is challenging the ‘Career Grand Slam,’ having won all four different major championships. He said, "I have waited a long time," and added, "I never doubted that I could rise again, but this is a victory I will remember for a lifetime."

Hoffman finished second (16 under par 272), and Matt Wallace (England), who played alongside Spieth in the champion group, finished third (14 under par 274). Defending champion Corey Conners (Canada) ended tied for 14th (6 under par 282). South Korea’s Kim Si-woo (26) and Lee Kyoung-hoon (30, both CJ Logistics) performed well, finishing tied for 23rd (4 under par 284). ‘Tank’ K.J. Choi (51, SK Telecom) tied for 30th (3 under par 285), No Seung-yeol (30) tied for 54th (even par 288), and Kang Sung-hoon (34) tied for 59th (1 over par 289).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.