Jordan Spieth is going to have to get used to these types of questions after beginning 2016 with the sort of golf the world hasn’t seen since Tiger Woods in his pomp.
Spieth strolled to a seventh PGA Tour title, at the age of 22, with an eight-shot victory in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and was immediately hit with questions regarding his place in the game next to Woods.
The world No1 came into the final round five shots in front of Brooks Koepka, but there was never any danger of anyone catching him as he carded a six-under-par 67 to finish a staggering -30. If his birdie
Although the 22-year-old missed out on history, he was in glorious form in Hawaii and proved comparisons to Woods are not misplaced as he becomes the third youngest man to reach seven PGA titles, taking just a month longer than Woods.
“I am nowhere near, I don’t think there’s any reason to compare, it is awfully early,” Spieth said.
“I’m very excited with where I am at as a start to my career and what Tiger has done I can’t imagine ever being done again, but it’s very nice to be in that company. Any time that you can get into the company of him and other great players, it’s a goal I’ve had since I was a little kid.”
The tournament was Spieth’s 85th start on Tour and he is almost two years younger than Woods – who studied at Stanford before turning pro at 20 – was when he reached the mark.
“I know what he did and what – I just find it hard to believe that it can be matched. I know we’re in a position now where we’re actually maybe ahead of the curve age-wise. But, boy, it would be hard to believe I could be compared to him the entire course of a career. I hope that’s the case, but I’m certainly going to strive for it,” he added.
“What he has done for the game of golf is something special and I just don’t feel I deserve to necessarily be compared to him right now, but maybe I do. I don’t know.”
Had Spieth matched his second-round score of 64 he would have broken Els’ tournament record, but he saved his highest score of for the final round. It still contained seven birdies and one bogey and was enough to ensure a sixth tour win in the last 21 outings.
On his performance, he added: “I’m very satisfied. I felt comfortable all week, I felt it was just a short three-week break over the holidays and then just trying to continue what I was doing last year. It worked this week and all parts of the game were firing.”
First-round leader Patrick Reed finished in second place after a four-under-par 69 ensured a -22 score while Koepka slipped back to tied third with Brandt Snedeker.