Spieth is back to winning just at the right timeSpieth is back to winning just at the right time
Jordan Spieth went more than 1,300 days without a win on the PGA Tour, but Sunday he claimed his first victory since 2017.
Day: April 4, 2021
Jordan Spieth ends winning drought with victory at Valero Texas OpenJordan Spieth ends winning drought with victory at Valero Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Jordan Spieth ended a slump that lasted nearly four years, closing with a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win the Valero Texas Open for his first victory since the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Now he heads to Augusta National as one of the favorites at the Masters Tournament. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Winner’s Bag: Jordan Spieth, Valero Texas Open “This is a monumental win for me,” Spieth said. “It’s been a long road. There were a lot of times that I didn’t know I would be here.” Spieth sealed it with a 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and he won by two shots over Charley Hoffman. Spieth went 82 starts on the PGA TOUR without a victory since Royal Birkdale. He missed the TOUR Championship the past two years and nearly fell out of the top 100 in the world at the start of this year. But the 27-year-old from Dallas showed signs of turning it around. He was tied for the 54-hole lead in Phoenix. He led by two going into the final round at Pebble Beach. He was two behind going into the last day at Bay Hill. Tied for the lead with Matt Wallace going into Sunday at the TPC San Antonio, Spieth moved out in front and didn’t let anyone catch him. He built a three-shot lead with a birdie on the 12th hole, when Hoffman made him sweat. Hoffman, needing a victory to get back to the Masters, chipped in for birdie on the par-3 13th and holed a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 16th to get within one shot. But he found a bunker off the tee on the short par-4 17th and had to settle for par as Spieth moved two shots ahead, and they both made par on the closing hole. Hoffman closed with a 66. Spieth, who finished at 18-under 270, moved to No. 7 in the FedExCup standings. Wallace couldn’t keep up and closed with a 70 to finish alone in third. Lucas Glover (66) finished in fourth, while Anirban Lahiri birdied the last hole for a 69 to finish alone in fifth. Spieth typically is a favorite at the Masters, where he was runner-up in his debut in 2014, won wire-to-wire the next year and was runner-up again after losing a back-nine lead in 2016.
Winner's Bag: Jordan Spieth, Valero Texas OpenWinner's Bag: Jordan Spieth, Valero Texas Open
See a complete list of the golf equipment Jordan Spieth used to win the PGA Tour's 2021 Valero Texas Open.
Jon Rahm's wife gives birth before MastersJon Rahm's wife gives birth before Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Jon Rahm warned us that he could leave next week's Masters at any moment. He wasn't going to miss the birth of his first child, even if it meant withdrawing from the year's first major. Now he won't have to worry about that scenario. Instead, he'll arrive at Augusta National as a new father. Rahm's wife, Kelley, gave birth to a son early Saturday. Kepa Cahill Rahm was born at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. "Momma Kelley is doing great and recovering. Kepa is also in great health. Without a doubt the greatest day of my life!" Rahm wrote on Instagram. Rahm called Kepa, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long at birth, a "big boy from Basque country." Rahm, 26, is ranked 12th in the FedExCup and and third in the world ranking. He and defending champion Dustin Johnson are the only players to finish in the top 10 in each of the past three Masters. Rahm said at last week's World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play that Kelley was due between April 10-12, a range that fell from the Masters' third round through the Monday after. "All I can say is if anybody’s thinking of a betting on me on the Masters, maybe think about it twice because there’s a chance I have to just turn around and leave that week," Rahm said in Austin. "I’ve said it before; if I have to leave any event, I’ll leave. Being a father is much more important than any golf event would ever be, so that’s my head right now." Rahm's situation evoked memories of Phil Mickelson, who finished second in the 1999 U.S. Open while awaiting the birth of his first child. He said he would leave as soon as his beeper sounded but his wife, Amy, didn't give birth until the following day. Rahm won't have to worry about such a situation. He'll be able to compete at Augusta National with a clear mind.
Yanks’ Germán cheered, struggles vs. JaysYanks’ Germán cheered, struggles vs. Jays
Domingo Germán was cheered by Yankees fans in his return from a domestic violence suspension but struggled against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing three runs in three innings on Sunday.
Wood Memorial (G1) Day ContinuesWood Memorial (G1) Day Continues
Also at Aqueduct, Mischevious Alex won the Carter Handicap (G1) by 5 1/2 lengths over Mind Control. Also on the card, Search Results won the Gazelle Stakes (G3) and Modernist won the Excelsior Stakes (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Bourbonic a longshot bomb in the Wood Memorial (G2)Bourbonic a longshot bomb in the Wood Memorial (G2)
Saturday at Aqueduct, 72-1 longshot Bourbonic won the Wood Memorial (G2) by a head over Dynamic One with Crowded Trade third. Also on the card, Drain the Clock won the Bay Shore Stakes (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Hornets vs. Celtics Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks - April 4Hornets vs. Celtics Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks - April 4
Everything you need to know to wager on today’s game against Charlotte.
Flat cap, unique season make for tight NHL trade deadlineFlat cap, unique season make for tight NHL trade deadline
Acquiring Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow at the 2020 NHL trade deadline helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup. "We have zero dollars of cap space to acquire a player between now and the trade deadline," general manager Julien BriseBois said.
Report: Bucks signing Jrue Holiday to largest-possible contract extensionReport: Bucks signing Jrue Holiday to largest-possible contract extension
The Bucks traded a whopping three first-round picks and two first-round picks for Jrue Holiday during the offseason.