In achieving this momentous victory, Spieth joins an exclusive list of players to have won the original Major championship in professional golf including legends of the game and fellow Rolex Testimonees Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, known as ‘The Big Three’, and Tom Watson, who claimed an unprecedented five Open titles in nine years.
Other Rolex Testimonees to have claimed the coveted title and iconic Claret Jug include Zimbabwean Nick Price in 1994, Tiger Woods in 2000, 2005 and 2006 and Phil Mickelson in 2013.
The 146th Open is Spieth’s third Major victory, and the 23-year-old Texan becomes the 18th male player to have won three different Major championships, and is only the second golfer to do so before the age of 24 - the first being fellow Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus.
Following scores of 65, 69 and 65, Spieth carded a final round of 69, with key birdies at holes 14, 16 and 17 plus an eagle at hole 15. As such, he is the first player to shoot in the 60s in every round of any staging of The Open at Royal Birkdale, and is only the sixth player to go wire-to-wire for a victory at The Open, following in the footsteps of fellow Rolex Testimonee Tiger Woods, who achieved the feat in 2005.
“A DREAM COME TRUE’’
Descring how it feels to have his hands on the Claret Jug, Spieth said: “It’s incredible. This is one of the most sought after trophies in the world and the most sought after in our sport. To be able to have my name on it, and already see that, is a dream come true. My last goal now is to try to complete a career Grand Slam.”
Were Spieth to achieve this, he would become only the sixth male golfer to have won all four of golf’s modern Majors at any time during their career, joining an elite group that includes fellow Rolex Testimonees Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
Rolex Testimonee Brooks Koepka also made a notable impact on the leaderboard, finishing the championship tied in sixth place. The 27-year-old, who recently won his first Major, and Spieth are part of the Rolex New Guard – a new generation of golfers who want to assert their authority on the sport, and inspire future generations of players to follow them.
Rolex Director of Communication & Image, Arnaud Boetsch, said: “Rolex extends its warmest congratulations to Jordan Spieth for his remarkable victory at golf’s original championship.
“Jordan Spieth has been an esteemed member of the Rolex family since 2013. The honour of lifting the Claret Jug is a fitting reward for his commitment to individual excellence, as well as his precise and singular performance at The Open.”
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