Jordan Spieth entered Sunday with a three shot lead over American Matt Kuchar in the 2017 Open Championship.
Spieth was pumped after his long-distance bogey save on 13, and the extra bounce on his step was evident when he almost aced No. 14 and, after draining a 50-foot eagle bomb on 15, Spieth pointed to his caddie and said - in his best old-school fashion - "Go get it".
That's a painful reality for someone who has earned more money than any current player - about $40 million - without a major championship to his name.
"Thanks too to my caddie Michael (Greller) for keeping me in it today after not an ideal start".
This one is technically a grounds rule, but if not for this little quirk at Royal Birkdale, Spieth may have never chose to take the unplayable lie.
He took bogey while Spieth calmly two-putted, finishing the job with a tap-in and hugging his caddie Michael Greller, whom he credited with keeping him rolling through the difficulties of the front nine today.
"This is as much of a high as I've ever experienced in my golfing life, " Spieth said.
American golfer Jordan Spieth has quickly gone from the young guy on tour to a legitimate PGA threat time in and time out. "This was eventful - I would have taken 17 pars and a birdie to get this done, but there are a lot of roads to the finish. But I need you to believe that right now because you're in a great position in this tournament", Spieth said.
His first Open Championship win is great news for Golf Australia, which has drawn a commitment from the Texan to defend his title at the Emirates Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club from 23-26 November.
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The Spain worldwide nearly joined Madrid in August 2015, but signed a fresh four-year deal with United the following month. For me, he's the best in the world, so I want to keep him here at United.
Australian Marc Leishman finished in a five-way tie for sixth at four under after closing with a stylish 65.
"This is absolutely a dream come true for me", said Spieth after being presented with the Claret Jug at his victory ceremony. And to be this close, to taste it with five holes to go, it's a hard one to sit back and take.
Spieth joins Jack Nicklaus as the only player to get three of the four legs of a career grand slam before his 24th birthday, which comes next week. And to have a chance to make history and win a championship.
I feel unlucky now as the weather cleared up and it became easy to negotiate the course just as I was packing my stuff at Birkdale. But Saturday, Grace calmly sank a putt from a few feet away on the final hole to claim the record.
Spieth admitted he thought a drink of wine from the Claret Jug following Zach Johnson's triumph in 2015 was going to prove unlucky.
"You can control it to an extent but certain situations are going to bring more tension and you have to kind of channel that the right way, play the right shots".
Kuchar's 1-under-par 69 gave him second place on 9-under-par, three better than China's Li Haotong, who was third on 6-under-par after a brilliant 63.
Ex-European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley struggled to hold back the superlatives, telling the channel: "It's one of the greatest performances I've ever seen - and I don't say that lightly - in any sport".
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