SILVIS, Ill. — Jordan Spieth, 19, became the youngest player to win a
PGA Tour event in 82 years Sunday. And he did it by surviving a
grueling five-hole, sudden-death playoff with defending champion Zach
Johnson and David Hearn at the John Deere Classic.
Spieth, who got into the playoff when he holed a bunker shot on the final hole of regulation that he called "the luckiest shot I've ever hit in my life," become the youngest winner since 19-year-old Ralph Guldahl won the Santa Monica Open in 1931.
"I don't know what I did to deserve all those breaks," Spieth said.
LEADERBOARD: john Deere Classic
Spieth holed a 26-inch putt on the 18th green, the fifth playoff hole, for a win and new status. The former Texas star came to the Deere as a special temporary member. He heads to the British Open as a full-fledged PGA Tour member with a two-year exemption. He's also eligible for the season-ending playoffs. And he collected a first-prize check of $828,000.
"I was just so lucky," said Spieth, who came in with five top-10 finishes this season. "That's what it was."
Johnson, an Iowa native who had been 3-0 in playoffs including one over Troy Matteson at last year's Deere, was denied a 10th career victory.
"You've got to tip your cap to Jordan," Johnson said.
Spieth started the final round six shots back, and promptly bogeyed the first hole. But he birdied five of the last six. The last one was that 44-foot bunker shot. He hit it thin, but it took one bounce, hit the pin and dr
Read more : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2013/07/14/jordan-spieth-zach-johnson-david-hearn-john-deere-classic/2516541/
Spieth, who got into the playoff when he holed a bunker shot on the final hole of regulation that he called "the luckiest shot I've ever hit in my life," become the youngest winner since 19-year-old Ralph Guldahl won the Santa Monica Open in 1931.
"I don't know what I did to deserve all those breaks," Spieth said.
LEADERBOARD: john Deere Classic
Spieth holed a 26-inch putt on the 18th green, the fifth playoff hole, for a win and new status. The former Texas star came to the Deere as a special temporary member. He heads to the British Open as a full-fledged PGA Tour member with a two-year exemption. He's also eligible for the season-ending playoffs. And he collected a first-prize check of $828,000.
"I was just so lucky," said Spieth, who came in with five top-10 finishes this season. "That's what it was."
Johnson, an Iowa native who had been 3-0 in playoffs including one over Troy Matteson at last year's Deere, was denied a 10th career victory.
"You've got to tip your cap to Jordan," Johnson said.
Spieth started the final round six shots back, and promptly bogeyed the first hole. But he birdied five of the last six. The last one was that 44-foot bunker shot. He hit it thin, but it took one bounce, hit the pin and dr
Read more : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2013/07/14/jordan-spieth-zach-johnson-david-hearn-john-deere-classic/2516541/
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