What if last year wasn’t the best golf Jordan Spieth can play?
What if he only continues to get better?
The possibilities seem endless. The comparisons to Tiger Woods are enticing and inevitable.
How impressive was Spieth’s 30-under 262 performance and eight-stroke romp at the Plantation Course?
Jason Day noted that the average winning score of the event before Spieth’s victory and since it moved to its current venue in 1999 was 20 1/2 under par. “He’s blown that average out,” said Day, the No. 2 player in the world and reigning PGA Champion, who also got blown out by 15 strokes.
Patrick Reed got to within two at the turn in the final round, but only for a nanosecond. Spieth birdied Nos. 9 and 10 then poured it on with three more birdies over his final four holes.
Reed, who made just one bogey all week, finished alone in second eight shots back.
The victory was the seventh of Spieth’s PGA TOUR career. The only other players to have that many wins on TOUR by age 22 are Woods and Horton Smith.
“He’s picking up where he left off,” said Zach Johnson, who finished a stroke better than Spieth in regulation at last year’s Open Championship before winning the tournament in a playoff. This week he got dusted by 19. “He’s very driven, very fierce, very solid.
“It’s just impressive. I don’t know how you define it, how you label it. If phenom is the right label then so be it. What he’s doing right now is just rare, so let’s just sit back and enjoy it.”
Spieth certainly seems to be enjoying it. And why wouldn’t he be?
The last five times he has carried a lead into the last day he has gone on to win. Three of his last five victories have come by eight, four and four.
Since last year’s U.S. Open, Spieth is 139 under in 48 worldwide rounds. He has won four of those starts, finished second in two others and fourth in two more.
Was this week simply a continuation of last season, or something more?
It’s a new year, but the same story, particularly with his putter.
Spieth led the field in strokes gained tee-to-green and strokes gained-putting, took just 23 putts in the third round, and for the week made seven putts from outside 10 feet, including four from home run range outside 25 feet.
He compared his performance with the flat stick this week to that of last year, when he won five times, including two major championships, and captured the FedExCup, ranking the output behind only his Masters and TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola performances.
“My putter felt great, which is huge to start your first tournament back and not really feel like you have to work much on putting, other than getting the speed down,” Spieth said. “My putting feels like it is 100 percent ready for major championships, and I've just got to just dial in everything else just a little bit more. I can sit here and say that my putting certainly is ready for the Masters to be next week.”
Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait until April like the rest of us.
As for those comparisons to Woods, they are, to a degree, warranted.
After some early failings, the world No. 1 has shown an ability to close out a tournament when in front the same way Woods used to.
He has also produced his share of highlight-reel moments, like the eagle that was nearly an albatross on the final hole of Saturday’s round.
But Spieth isn't biting. That just wouldn’t be his style.
On the 18th hole Sunday, Spieth’s caddie turned to him and said, “Way to make a statement.”
Spieth prefers actions over words.
“I just think it's premature, but I'll say that probably my entire career,” he said of the comparisons to Woods. “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.
“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. Personally I don't think so.”
But what if? What if?
Photos From Jordan's Win at the Hyundai
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Jordan holds the winner's trophy at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions
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In this candid photo on the course, Jordan and Michael share a victory moment
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Jordan celebrates as he wins the Hyundai in dominant fashion with an eight-shot victory over Patrick Reed
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Staked to a five-shot lead, Jordan kept his margin and spent the afternoon soaking up the views of surf and sun on Maui
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Jordan pumps his fist after a birdie on the second
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Michael and Jordan talk on the first tee
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Ellie greets Jordan as he makes his way to the first tee on Sunday
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Jordan reacts after sinking his 10-foot eagle putt on the final hole of the third round
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His 8-under round of 65 gave him a five shot lead over the field
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Jordan plays a chip shot on the 11th
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Walking off his putt on the 10th hole
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Jordan shoots a 64 to take the lead going into the weekend at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions
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Jordan reacts after his chip-in eagle on No. 9
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Jordan signs autographs after his opening round 66 at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions
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Jordan lines up his birdie putt on the 18th hole
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Jordan and Michael talk on the 14 tee. Jordan would birdie the hole, his fifth of the day
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Jordan and Patrick Reed walk off the the first tee during Thursday's opening round
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Jordan was all smiles during the Hyundai Tournament of Champions Pro-Am
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Jordan poses with his Pro-Am team
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Jordan talks to the press ahead of the PGA TOUR's first tournament of 2016
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Jordan plays a shot during Tuesday's practice round
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Jordan and Rickie Fowler see something amusing on Rickie's cell phone
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The World No. 1 returns to PGA TOUR play in Hawaii
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Starting off the season in Hawaii gave the Spieth family the opportunity to spend some time in the sun together
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Ellie gets to do a little snorkeling with her big brother
