Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:55, UK
Ewen Murray reflects on a sensational Masters win for Jordan Spieth and looks forward to seeing the 21-year-old going head-to-head with world No 1 Rory McIlroy...
As the dust settles on another Masters, there is so much to look forward to in what I'm sure will be a compelling golfing season.
Much has been said recently about the possibility of the Rory McIlroy/Rickie Fowler rivalry, but for now, Rickie has to find another gear. With only one win on the PGA Tour, this was a mis-match although it could gather some momentum in the months ahead should Fowler find a rich vein of form.
The Masters gave us a wonderful champion in Jordan Spieth and his duels with McIlroy will be fascinating to say the least. Jordan's win is good for Rory. These two fine players will go head-to-head during the year and we will all enjoy seeing where that takes us.
Spieth is a remarkable young man with no ego. He has an old head on his young shoulders and takes pressure in his stride
Spieth is a remarkable young man with no ego. He has an old head on his young shoulders and takes pressure in his stride. What a magnificent gesture to the Heritage officials at Harbour Town just hours after his Masters victory.
With the media work all over America during whistle-stop tours Jordan could have been excused teeing it up at Hilton Head Island, but having received a sponsor's invitation there when he didn't have full playing privileges, he honoured his commitment to play.
It says a lot about him and he is a superb role model for the next generation of young players. With Rory much in the same bracket, these two are at the head of the sport and are set to thrill for some time to come.
Phil Mickelson was enduring a tough season, but with Augusta inspiring him, he came close to winning his fourth Masters. Having already won four, Tiger Woods made a welcome return to the course and free of injury, gave it a good run over the first three days.
Both are now in the autumn of their careers, yet there will be no handing over of the baton just yet.
Mickelson has given so much enjoyment to so many over the last quarter of a century and his sights will be set on a career Grand Slam at Chambers Bay in June. Six times second in his National Championship, surely no one would deny him the victory that would have him join the five who have achieved greatness.
Tiger lost confidence
I thought Tiger was superb over the first 45 holes at Augusta and perhaps the fact he had played so little over the last two years took its toll. From the moment he hooked his tee shot at 13 in round three, his confidence slipped and never recovered.
His bad shots are so destructive and it's tough to compete when you are in between a hook and a push. It is early days with new coach Chris Como, but they need to find the solution sooner rather than later as Tiger turns 40 at the end of the year.
At the start of the week, Woods seemed to have a new attitude. He looked relaxed during the par-three contest in the company of his children and certainly there were smiles over the opening two rounds.
For him to return to former glories, I think he has to be more honest with himself. The constant reference to missed putts is tiresome, when in actual fact, the first fairway he hit on Sunday was the 13th.
If Woods is to contend and challenge the many youngsters who have made big strides in the last year, he has to return to the ethics that were the very foundation of his brilliance for over a decade. Should he do that and stay healthy, he has more wins in him.
Many of the home supporters would have relished the performance of Justin Rose and, with the season now in full flow, no doubt there is more to come from the former US Open champion.
Busy month ahead
At the end of the month, the second World Golf Championship event of the season gets underway. The Cadillac Match Play is always eagerly anticipated and the world's top 64 players will gather at the Harding Park course – a municipal facility on the outskirts of San Francisco.
The week after that we have the annual meeting at Sawgrass for the Players Championship, before heading to the magnificent Quail Hollow for the Wells Fargo. This course is a huge favourite with the players, as is the enchanting city of Charlotte.
So one major down, three to go and the US Open visits Chambers Bay on America's west side for the first time. This is where Peter Uihlein won the US Amateur in 2010. It's unlike the normal US Open venues, carved and created in a basin, so it will be interesting to see how that goes.
With your own courses blossoming in the spring sunshine, I hope you're enjoying your golf and are looking forward to reducing that handicap.
Jordan Spieth has given the 2015 year a thrilling start and the only thing we can be sure of, there will be much more to cheer throughout the summer.
