Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year and had no trouble winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday.
Staked to a five-shot lead, Spieth made two straight birdies around the turn at Kapalua to restore his margin, and he spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the views of surf and sun on Maui. The view from the top is just as stunning at the moment, not so much for those trying to catch him.
Spieth made an 8-foot birdie putt to reach his target, even though he didn't need it. He closed with a 6-under 67 for an eight-shot victory over Patrick Reed. He finished at 30-under 262, joining Ernie Els as the only players in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30 under or lower.
Els set his record of 31 under at Kapalua in 2003 with an eight-shot win.
Spieth won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to get that many at age 22 since complete records began in 1970.
That requires a little context. Spieth won his seventh title in his 77th start as a pro. Woods won his seventh PGA Tour event in his 38th start, and he had 18 wins in his first 77 tournaments.
Spieth is coming off a five-win season that included the Masters and U.S. Open.
SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Brandon Stone won the South African Open for his first European Tour title, becoming the youngest player to win the event since it was added to the tour schedule in 1997.
The 22-year-old South African closed with a 1-under 71 at Glendower for a two-stroke victory over countryman Christiaan Bezuidenhout (67). Stone finished at 14 under.
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