Seated in front of the world media with the trophy by his side for the second successive Sunday, Jordan Spieth could not have been blamed if he was confused where he was seated – Sydney or Orlando or maybe even Japan, where the week before, he missed getting into a play-off by one.
Despite being installed as the youngest champion ever at the Hero World Challenge, Spieth handled the situation of winning two weeks in a row after playing three consecutive in three continents with aplomb. He said, "In general, this was the best that I've ever played, which is what I said in a media centre in Sydney last week. I played better this week. It has been really cool finishing third in Japan and then winning two weeks."
After besting Rory McIlroy (by 15 shots) and Adam Scott (by nine shots) and winning by six over the nearest, Rod Pampling in the Australian Open, he destroyed an even deeper field in Isleworth. Totaling a Tiger-like 26-under, Spieth was followed by Henrik Stenson (16-under 272) 10 shots behind in second place. Patrick Reed (68) and Keegan Bradley (70) tied for third at 15-under and Jason Day (66) was fifth at 14-under, while Rickie Fowler (68) and Justin Rose (71) were tied sixth.
Each one a recognisable star worthy of the biggest prizes and yet Spieth was miles ahead.
Woods was impressed as he said, "Twenty five-under (Spieth was 25-under at that stage and went on to make it 26-under) is pretty low, isn't it? I think that's probably the lowest I've ever gone. I think I've gone 25 twice. But what he's (Spieth) doing out here is pretty impressive. I know he won here not too long ago. Hard to believe he was only in college a couple of years ago, but he ended up winning out here, and he's doing it again this week."
Spieth led from the front and kept increasing his lead from one to two in the second round and then to seven after 54 holes and by 10 when the curtain was run down on the 2014 Hero World Challenge.
It has not just been about winning, but it is the way Spieth has been winning. He has been dominant, just as Tiger Woods was till sometime back. It was truly a Tiger-like show in a tournament hosted by Tiger and won by him five times. Now, it is Jordan Spieth time.
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