While it is "risky to project a sport’s next star," golfer Jordan Spieth after winning The Masters in record-setting fashion "checks all the boxes," according to Jeff Schultz of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. His golf is "perfect," and his humility, perspective and respect for everybody around him "is beyond the norm for any person." During the Green Jacket ceremony last night, he "even thanked Augusta National’s 'food and beverage staff,'" and it all "seems genuine." The win yesterday moves Spieth to No. 2 in the world golf rankings behind only Rory McIlroy, but "everybody will believe Spieth is the guy to beat" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/13). In Columbia, Josh Kendall writes Spieth thanking the tournament's volunteers and food and beverage staff cemented his "status as the game's most likeable star" -- as well as its hottest (Columbia STATE, 4/13). Golf World Editor-In-Chief Jaime Diaz said, "He checks all the boxes: He’s young, good looking. It helps to be American, certainly. He's very gracious. He's really smart. I think he's media friendly. He's savvy about how to deal with it. His quotes are extensive and yet he doesn't get himself in trouble. I just think there are no negatives at the moment" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 4/13). In Austin, Kirk Bohls writes the "next best thing is now the best thing," as Spieth is "a natural" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATEMAN, 4/13).
THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT: In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes the golf world "now has its future on Spieth dial," and this new era "will be played by Jordan Rules" (L.A. TIMES, 4/13). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes Spieth, a "young American, not even 22 years old," won one of the "great U.S. sporting events with a kind of unspoken class and grace that would seem to come from another era" (USA TODAY, 4/13). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein writes under the header, "Plea To Masters Champion Jordan Spieth: Never Change" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/13). Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee said it is easy to "extrapolate two decades down the road what he might achieve and how he might bring so many young players to the game because he connects with everybody, young and old” (“Live From the Masters,” Golf Channel, 4/12). In L.A., Mark Whicker writes Spieth three years from now "will be a Brand," but he hopes Spieth "will remain unfiltered and thoughtful and forthright." Whicker: "Maybe he’ll remain emotionally accessible, still admitting to human things like anxiety and frustration" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/13).
MADE IN AMERICA: In N.Y., Filip Bondy writes fans at The Masters this weekend "fully understood they were watching both the present and future of American golf" in Spieth (
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/13). In Charlotte, Ron Green Jr. wrote under the header, "Spieth Is New Face Of American Golf." The game’s "new golden boy" has a future "as wide as [his] native Texas sky" (
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/12). ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski wrote under the header, "Spieth Shifts Spotlight Of American Golf" (
ESPN.com, 4/12). Golf Channel's David Duval said Spieth "grabbed American golf by the throat and has put it in a very healthy, very, very good place" (
"Live From The Masters," Golf Channel, 4/12).
GRANTLAND's Michael Weinreb writes, "In terms of American golf, Spieth is the most exciting thing to happen to the sport in a generation. ... I want to see if he can win another major, and then another, if he can get on the kind of roll that carried Nicklaus and Tiger through the best parts of their careers. I want to see him attempt to execute difficult flop shots in pressure situations. I want to see if he has the ability to transcend the sport in his own way" (
GRANTLAND.com, 4/13). In N.Y., Bill Pennington writes the "new breed of dominant golfer" for years figured to be "someone flashy like Rickie Fowler or boastful like Patrick Reed." Instead, golf’s newest major champion is a "resolutely humble, soft-spoken Texan whose version of iconoclastic flamboyance" yesterday was a dark belt with white pants (
N.Y. TIMES, 4/13).
OUT OF THE WOODS: In Tacoma, John McGrath writes Spieth drew comparisons to Tiger Woods throughout the weekend, as they both won their first majors at the age of 21. Spieth "might not have the made-for-marketing nickname, and he wasn't regarded to be a golf prodigy before the first grade." However, Spieth's "steely glare, his mystique of implacable confidence, his determination to compartmentalize ... those are all vintage Tiger" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 4/13). GOLF.com's Michael Rosenberg wrote Woods at his peak "seemed superhuman," while Spieth "just seems superbly human." His personality is a "delightful cocktail of modesty and self-assuredness" (GOLF.com, 4/12). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes Spieth during the course of the four-day tournament "would make us all contemplate the notion of his potential legacy, of his ascension to a stage Tiger erected nearly two decades ago, ready to supplant the era of Woods’ dominance" (Bergen RECORD, 4/13). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman writes Spieth single-handedly "shook the sport out of its post-Tiger Woods doldrums" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/13).
PGA TOUR IN A HEALTHY PLACE: CBSSPORTS.com's Robby Kalland wrote Spieth will dominate the headlines over the next few days, but the leaderboard at The Masters shows golf "is in great shape for years to come." Veterans like Phil Mickelson are "not yet ready to pass the torch to the next generation," and Woods "flashed the brilliance we've known from him for nearly 20 years." McIlroy "took strides this week" and it "seems inevitable that one day he will break through at the Masters." Other players like Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose are "reaching their prime years and starting to contend regularly in majors," while Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama head the "next generation of contenders ... that will be rounding out Top 10s for years to come and who will likely collect a few majors eventually" (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/12). Golf Channel's Duval said Spieth "showed himself" to be a "rival for Rory McIlroy." Duval: "As golf fans, we can only hope they battle moving forward. Throw in a few of the other young, great players that are prevalent in today's game, and it's in good stead. It's very healthy and it's going to be exciting moving forward.” Golf Channel’s Frank Nobilo said Spieth’s Masters win "changes the landscape right now." Nobilo: "We have a very healthy future. This is the sign of the next wave" ("Live From The Masters," Golf Channel, 4/12). ESPN.com's Jason Sobel said, "We have now at the top of the world rankings a 25-year-old in Rory McIlroy and a 21-year-old in Jordan Spieth. I can't wait to fast-forward through the next 20 years of golf, which are going to be maybe a golden age for the game” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 4/13). MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough: “We’re going to see him and Rory for a very long time fighting” (“Morning Joe,” MSNBC, 4/13).
