Jordan Spieth laments the Masters record that got away, a little bit

 

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – Jordan Spieth became the first player to reach 19-under par at any point during the Masters. He just didn't stay there. 

 

On the final hole, he chipped too strong and missed a 5-foot par putt that would have put him alone in the Masters record book at 19-under 269. Instead, he shares the spot at 270 with Tiger Woods, who made a 4-foot par putt in 1997 to break the record held by Raymond Floyd (1976) and Jack Nicklaus (1965). 

 

Asked on Tuesday if he was bothered by not making par, Spieth said, "A little bit." 

 

"I knew he had shot that," Spieth said. "I didn't know where I was at. I was so focused on this match I was playing with Justin (Rose)." 

 

Not that he wasn't trying. 

 

"When I was reading it I thought to myself, 'I've been told after each round about some record. I'm sure it's for something. Let's make it,'" Spieth said. 

 

Sure enough, he missed a 6-foot birdie putt on Friday that would have broken the record for the lowest 36-hole total at any major. He made par for 66 in the second round and still set the Masters record at 130. 

 

Spieth reached 19 under with an up-and-down birdie behind the green on the par-5 15th. He made an 8-foot par putt on the 16th that was important – just look at the intensity of his fist pump – because he kept a four-shot lead over Rose on what had the potential for a two-shot swing. He narrowly missed a birdie on the 17th. 

 

And then he bogeyed the 18th. 

 

"It looks like I looked at the chip, but I had a lot of thoughts in my head and I was just enjoying that whole moment," Spieth said. "I wished I had maybe glanced at it, tried to read it. But it matters very little at this point." 

 

Indeed. He has a green jacket. He gets to come back every year for the rest of his life. That's what matters.