Spieth, 19, prevails on 5th playoff hole

SILVIS, Ill. - Jordan Spieth can say that he’s accomplished something that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy never did.

Spieth won a PGA Tour event as a teenager - and now he’s joining all those stars at this week’s British Open.

The 19-year-old outlasted David Hearn and Zach Johnson on the fifth hole of a playoff Sunday to win the John Deere Classic, becoming the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 82 years.

Spieth, a Dallas native who doesn’t turn 20 for another two weeks, hit a short par putt to earn a spot in the field at Muirfield.

He is the first teenager to win since Ralph Guldahl took the Santa Monica Open in 1931.

“I didn’t think it would happen this early,” said Spieth, who turned pro in December after an All-American season as a freshman at the University of Texas. “I had a plan. I guess the plan got exceeded.”

But Spieth forced his way into the playoff with three consecutive birdies. The last came when he holed out of the bunker from 44 feet, delighting a crowd that had expected to see Johnson, the hometown favorite, defend his title.

Spieth caught a break when that 44-footer took a pair of fortuitous bounces. But he also put himself in that position with a brilliant final round.

Spieth, Hearn and Johnson all made par on the first four playoff holes. Spieth simply made one more to stave off Johnson and Hearn on the fifth.

All three players had their chances to make a winning shot before the final hole - with Johnson narrowly missing from the back of the green on a shot that clipped the cup on the first playoff hole.

Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 5-under 66, his second of the tournament, and finished in a tie for 27th at 12 under to earn $33,350.

Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a second 4-under 67 for the weekend and finished at 9 under which was good enough for a tie for 48th place and $12,162.

Sports, Pages 15 on 07/15/2013

Upcoming Events