AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jordan Spieth gave his Masters ranking a much-needed boost with a closing round of 4-under 68, highlighted by a holed bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 13th and a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
His tie for 12th marks his best major finish in three years, since his T4 at the 2023 Masters. The timing couldn’t be better for Spieth, who ended last year ranked 80th in the world and has been hovering outside the top 60 recently.
He’s now entering a crucial stretch leading up to the PGA Championship, after which the top 60 players earn exemptions into the U.S. Open. Spieth’s 10-year exemption from his 2015 Chambers Bay victory expired last year, and at 32, he’s in an uncomfortable position of potentially needing a special exemption if he can’t climb the rankings.
This week’s T12 finish bumped him from 61st to 52nd in the world rankings. He’s playing the RBC Heritage next, followed by two signature events before the PGA Championship at Aronimink. That ranking area can be particularly stubborn for upward movement.
Adam Scott also helped his cause with solid weekend rounds of 70-70 to tie for 24th, nudging him to 51st in the world. The U.S. Open is the only major Scott isn’t currently exempt for, and qualifying would mark his 100th consecutive major championship appearance.
The USGA has historically granted special exemptions to accomplished non-U.S. Open winners like Ben Crenshaw, Nick Price and Phil Mickelson. But both Spieth and Scott would surely prefer to qualify on merit.
The $100 Million Spring Swing
Players are now in the midst of a grueling six-week stretch that began with the Masters and concludes with the PGA Championship, with three signature events packed between them.
The combined prize money for this run is approaching $100 million, though the top players are probably getting used to the $20 million purses by now. After the RBC Heritage comes the team-format Zurich Classic, followed by signature events at Doral and Quail Hollow before heading to the year’s second major.
“It’s tough. I mean, it’s not how I would prefer to draw it up,” Justin Thomas said. “Majors are kind of what guys will generally build their schedule off of, what they need to do to prepare for a major. It’s also how your legacy in the game is remembered for a lot of people.”
“Going to very difficult courses into a major I don’t think is probably how it would be drawn up for a lot of guys,” he added, noting that the Future Competition Committee will likely consider this scheduling challenge in future PGA Tour models.
Curtis Cup Team USA Taking Shape
The American Curtis Cup team is now half-complete with four players selected for the prestigious women’s amateur team competition.
Texas Longhorns junior Farah O’Keefe and 17-year-old Asterisk Talley have secured spots through their world amateur rankings. They join Kiara Romero, who had already qualified by winning last year’s Mark H. McCormack medal as the top female amateur.
O’Keefe is ranked 4th globally and was the highest-ranked American available. Megha Ganne, ranked 7th, would have been next in line but is turning pro before the June 12-14 matches at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. Her spot goes to Talley.
Auburn junior Anna Davis was selected by the Curtis Cup committee, which will choose the final four players after this spring’s NCAA regionals.
Cameron Young’s Remarkable Run
Cameron Young’s breakthrough win at last summer’s Wyndham Championship and strong Ryder Cup performance were apparently just the beginning.
The New Yorker has been on an absolute heater over the past two months:
He tied for 7th at Riviera, finished T3 at Bay Hill after being in contention, won The Players Championship with a clutch drive on the 18th to beat Matt Fitzpatrick, and just tied for 3rd at the Masters after holding a two-shot lead on the front nine Sunday.
During this four-tournament stretch, Young has skyrocketed from 22nd to 3rd in the world rankings, taken over the FedEx Cup lead, and earned a staggering $6.78 million. That’s the kind of run that transforms a career.
The Rally Worth Remembering
Last year’s difference between making and missing the PGA Tour postseason was just five FedEx Cup points. That’s why Brian Harman’s Masters performance might prove crucial come August.
Harman was 10-over par through 22 holes at Augusta National, looking certain to miss the cut. But the former British Open champion rallied with four straight birdies, part of seven in his second round, to shoot 69 and make the cut on the number.
He followed with a third-round 67 and final-round 73 to tie for 33rd, earning 35 FedEx Cup points that could make all the difference later this season.
Divots
The Senior PGA Championship will feature the debut of 2016 British Open champion Henrik Stenson, who turned 50 on April 5. Stenson was relegated from LIV Golf last fall after four years… Michelle Wie West is using maternity leave to play one more U.S. Women’s Open this year at Riviera. She’ll also play the Mizuho Americas Open on a sponsor exemption May 7-10, where she serves as tournament host for the event pairing LPGA players with elite juniors… Gary Woodland will have Tim Tucker on his bag at the RBC Heritage while his regular caddie, Brennan Little, competes in the Senior PGA Championship… Matt Fitzpatrick and his brother Alex, who plays on the European tour, will team up at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans next week.
Stat of the week
Six of the 10 players in the last five groups at the Masters failed to break par. Their combined scoring average was 73.1.
Final word
“I’m not putting a number on it, but I certainly don’t want to stop here.” — Masters champion Rory McIlroy after winning his sixth major.
