Spieth opens the new year in style with win at Kapalua

The world number Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year to easily win the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

PGA golfer Jordan Spieth poses with the trophy after winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions golf tournament at The Plantation Course on Sunday.

Spieth closed with three birdies on his last four holes – including a three at the par-four 16th hole after he put his 75-yard second shot to within two feet from the hole – to leave no doubt as to who the man to beat in 2016 is. Only Ernie Els, at this tournament on this course in 2003, has scored better, shooting 31-under par.

The win was Spieth’s seventh on the PGA Tour, with Spieth matching Tiger Woods as the only players since 1970 with that many victories by age 22.

Reed ended his bogey-free week on the 15th hole and closed with a 69.

And then, his short game took over. Second-placed Patrick Reed carded only one bogey in what was a windy week, rattled off four rounds in the sixties and still got whupped, as they say in Texas. And if that’s case, I’ve got to go out there and shoot in the 60s in order to win. “I understand those comparisons are going to be there, and I hope they continue to be there because that means I’m playing golf at a very high level”. Along with taking care of the holes where birdies are likely, he picked up a bonus with a 50-foot birdie putt up the slope and with the grain on the 12th hole. He had five wins past year and now has finished seventh or better in his last five tournaments, including two victories.

After a week at home in Dallas, Spieth heads to Middle East for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Singapore Open before resuming his PGA Tour schedule at Pebble Beach and Riviera.

England’s Daniel Brooks grabbed a one-shot lead at the BMW SA Open in Johannesburg Saturday as the field completed a second round held over from Friday due to bad weather. The next time he saw a leaderboard, Spieth was five shots in front and the gap only got bigger from there. “You’re going to have to play a good solid golf tournament to have a chance to win”.

Kevin Kisner endured the most disappointing day – even though he shot a round of two under.

Stone only claimed his first professional victory late a year ago on the South African Sunshine Tour.

Australians Jason Day (65) and Steven Bowditch (72) tied for 10th, finishing at 15 under. Once Reed got within three shots, Spieth immediately birdied the ninth and 10th holes to get to 27-under and extend his lead to five.

Spieth acknowledges a technical deficit to McIlroy on the tee that can never be erased, but that is of no effect if you lead the “shots gained putting” stats on tour.