Jordan Spieth produced a sparkling back nine on Sunday and shot five-under-par 65 to win the Dean & DeLuca Invitational by three strokes over Harris English.
‘It’s really nice. Finally to close this one out feels really good, and yeah, I mean, it’s always nice to see those kind of putts and even chips go in when they really matter on the back nine Sunday, and that’s going to serve me well heading into this US Open’ said Spieth.
The 22-year-old started the day a shot clear at the top but had nothing going for him on the front nine. He parred all nine holes and made the turn one shot adrift of playing partner Ryan Palmer. The 39-year-old, unlike Spieth, had produced an eventful front nine that included three birdies. His unfortunate bogey at the eighth cut his lead heading onto the home stretch.
World number two Spieth suddenly ignited from the 10th as he rolled in three consecutive birdies while Palmer could only manage pars at the same holes. With the Dallas-born golfer hitting the front, he looked as though he may run away with it, but was halted on the 13th when he bogeyed his first hole of the day.
Palmer made bogey on the 14th and couldn’t find a birdie until the 18th to sign for a two-under-par 68. Harris English emerged as the main threat to Spieth in his pursuit of victory, setting a clubhouse target of 14-under-par after shooting a final-round 66.
Spieth found his mojo again and birdied the final three holes to card a five-under-par 65 and win by three shots.
From a South African perspective, Charl Schwartzel shot an unfortunate 72 to finish at three-under-par and in a tie for 25th. Tyrone van Aswegen finished well as he carded a final round 68 to move up into a tie for 42nd.
