Ceci Ferrara
April 11, 2016
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
2015 was a breakout year for Jordan Spieth, the 22-year old golf wunderkind from Dallas, Texas. After turning professional in 2012, the young golfer won PGA Rookie of the Year in 2013. Many likened him to Tiger Woods, very impressive at a young age. But in 2015 he exceeded expectations, winning the Masters and U.S. Open, and coming in second at the PGA Championship. He also tied for fourth in the Open Tournament.
Spieth was golf’s new superstar, eclipsing even the popularity of Rory McIlroy who was the PGA darling in 2014 after winning two majors. That’s why there was so much excitement surrounding the idea of the 22-year old winning back-to-back Masters tournaments. And why, after his stunning loss, there is so much confusion and disappointment.
The day after the tournament, there seem to be more headlines regarding Spieth’s epic–some are evens saying ‘historic’–collapse, than celebrating the winner of the tournament, Danny Willett.
Willet, a 28-year old Englishman, is a talented golfer that shot a 67 to win a green jacket. He deserves to be celebrated for his victory, though for many watching on Sunday, the old adage that ‘More games are lost, than won’ couldn’t have rung truer.
After leading all three days at Augusta, Spieth took a five-shot lead into the final day. But neither he, nor his caddie, nor the world, could have predicted what happened on the back nine. Spieth collapsed on 10, 11 and then 12–a quadruple-bogey 7 on No. 12 that included two water balls. Suddenly, he was trailing and was unable to bounce back.
“I can’t imagine that was fun for anyone to experience,” Spieth said afterward, “other than maybe Danny’s team.”
With a victory, Spieth would have become the youngest player in the Masters era to have won three majors. He also would’ve been only the fourth player ever to win two consecutive Masters, and been the game’s first back-to-back major winner. Instead, he must try to answer the question everyone, including he, is wondering – what happened?
“Big picture, this one will hurt,” Spieth said. “It will take a while.”
Spieth finished the day tied with Danny Westwood for second, while Paul Casey, J.B. Holmes, and Dustin Johnson all tied for fourth. McIlroy finished the tournament in a five-way tie for 10th place.
Capitals
The Washington Capitals finished their regular season with a 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. While it wasn’t the best way to close out the season, they have already shifted their focus to a new opponent–the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers beat Pittsburgh 3-1 on Saturday to clinch the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and set up a first-round series with Washington. The series will start on Thursday, and both teams are excited for the match-up. The Caps split the four games they played against Philly this season, winning two (5-2, 3-2), and losing two (4-3 in OT, 2-1 in a shootout).
It will be the fifth postseason meeting between the two teams, and first since 2008, when Philadelphia beat Washington 4-3. The Caps (56-18-8) are favored to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and while the Flyers (41-27-14) are worthy opponents, they will probably be the Caps first victims.
Washington has not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since they reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1998. However, many fans are hoping and believing that the wait for a championship, or at least a Cup appearance, is finally over.
The series begins on Thursday, with the first two games being held at Verizon Center.
