Jordan Spieth can say he’s accomplished something 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 at Muirfield.
The 19-year-old outlasted David Hearn and Zach Johnson on the fifth hole of a playoff yesterday to win the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., becoming the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 82 years.
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 one season at the University of Texas.
A bogey on the first hole left Spieth seven back with 17 to play. But he forced his way into the playoff with three straight birdies. The last came when he holed out of the bunker from 44 feet.
PERRY RALLIES IN SENIOR OPEN
In Omaha, Neb., Kenny Perry completed his comeback from 10 shots down after the second round to win the U.S. Senior Open. Perry shot a final-round 63 and won his second straight senior major by five strokes over Fred Funk. His 64-63 finish set a tournament record for the last 36 holes.