The article below has been published by WomenTalkingSports.com. Link to article HERE. This is an Historic moment in Golf and the beginning of a Legacy! Lydia Ko last week, Jordan Spieth this week! These are the stories that make me a happy journalist, happy to gush, and happy to share!:
Jordan Spieth closed out a record breaking season Sunday with an 8ft dagger putt in the heart to win the Tour Championship at East Lake GC by 4 shots. The win earned Jordan a $10 Million bonus, making him golf's first $22 Million Man. Not only is Jordan Spieth the only player to have reached $22 Million in a season, but he is also the youngest player in the history of the game to do so at just 22 years of age.
As a comparison, Tiger Woods was 25yrs old when he reached the $22 Million mark in career earnings, and that was after 25 PGA Tour wins and a career Grand Slam. The previous record was set by Vijay Singh in 2004 with $10.9 Million in career winnings.
The Tour Championship on Sunday was Jordan Spieth’s fifth title win of 2015, which placed him in the history books for the most money won in a season with $12,030,465 for the year. Impressively, this number is taken before accounting for his $10 Million bonus he also earned form the win. Neither does the $1 Million check he earned through his win at the Hero Challenge earlier in the year count toward his official career earnings, and we are just getting started. If $22 Million + in career earnings is not impressive enough for a 22 year old, consider that this also doesn't include sponsorship or appearance money either. To top it all off, Jordan's win at the Tour Championship returned him to the No. 1 spot in the world ranking.
How did Jordan Spieth pull off such an impressive season and final paycheck? According to Henrik Stenson, whose hopes of catching Spieth on Sunday were quickly deflated, "His putting and mental focus is the best in the world. It's hard to argue that."
Jordan's stats would agree with Henrik’s statement about Jordan's putting. Jordan is ranked first on tour for Overall Putting Avg., One-Putt Percentage, Putts Per Round, and Putting from 20-25'. Spieth made six putts outside of 20 feet at the Tour Championship; a career-high statistic that was best in the field. Those who watched Spieth on Sunday pour in a 20-foot birdie on No. 8, then an 18-foot birdie on No. 9, and again another 45-foot putt for birdie on No. 11 to own the field, witnessed the very reason Jordan Spieth has become Golf's youngest and first $22 Million Man.
Spieth reportedly approached the Tour Championship with as much respect and focus as a major. Going into the final round on Sunday atop the leaderboard by a shot, he was still on the putting green three hours prior to his tee time. Spieth's caddie Michael Greller called this preparation the "early grind, " also stating, "We only do this at the majors."
Spieth won triple-fold on Sunday, winning the Tour Championship, The Money List, and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average of 2015. He also finished no worse than 4th in every professional major of 2015, a record that only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus share.
To the amusement and admiration many, Jordan Spieth remarked, "It's the greatest season I've ever had, obviously. But it's one where I believe we took our game on course and off course to a level that I didn't think would be possible at different times in my life."
The young golf idol and multi-millionaire seems to have more than just his game carrying him onward and upward. His confidence is something to be envied, but it appears to be rooted in his relationship with his hugely supportive family in Texas. Jordan gave a crowd pleasing finish at the Tour Championship when he was greeted on the green by his little sister Ellie who is special needs. Ellie is allegedly the person who has kept Spieth the most centered and humble during his climb to success. Ellie and Jordan are siblings, best friends, and each-other’s biggest fans. As Jordan celebrated becoming golf's $22 Million Man with a hug by Ellie along with the rest of his family, he also won over the hearts of millions across the world.
Well done Jordan Spieth, on the best career finish in history by a 22 year old golf has ever seen!