23 days until golf: Spieth joins Tiger thanks to wild bunker hole-out
The PGA Tour plans to restart its season June 11 after halting due to the coronavirus pandemic. Each day until then, we'll highlight key moments, people, or facts relating to where we are in the countdown.
It feels like forever ago, but there was a point when Jordan Spieth contended in, and actually won, golf tournaments.
Cheap shots aside, Spieth's thrilling playoff victory at the 2017 Travelers Championship is one to remember for a number of reasons. First, the win itself was unbelievable. Spieth faced Daniel Berger in the extra hole, and the latter needed to birdie three of his final six holes in order to force a playoff.
After Spieth's drive clipped a tree branch and fell more than 100 yards farther back than Berger's on the first playoff hole, his lengthy approach landed in the greenside bunker. Justin Thomas, who was watching at home, called what would happen next.
Wouldn't be surprised if @JordanSpieth just holed this bunker shot
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 25, 2017
And Spieth did just that. He holed the 30-yard bunker shot and erupted with one of the most memorable celebrations in recent years.
Berger was unable to convert his 50-footer for birdie effort, which would have forced another playoff hole.
The victory for the then-23-year-old placed Spieth in elite company; he joined Tiger Woods as the only players since World War II to collect 10 or more Tour titles before reaching the age of 24.
Spieth won the Open Championship in his next start. To this day, it remains his most recent PGA Tour win. For comparison, Tiger had 15 wins before 24 to Spieth's 11.
Looking back at Spieth's last moments of greatness also serves as a reminder that the fickle sport of professional golf is better when the former world No. 1 is at the top of his game.