​Spieth Collapses In Amen Corner; Danny Willett Wins The Masters

(April 9, 2016 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

On April 10, Danny Willett and his wife were expecting the birth of their first child.  Fortunately for Willet, his newborn child came early enabling him to accept an invitation to the Masters.  He was the 89th and final player to enter the field.  
 
Jordan Spieth entered Sunday with a one shot lead.  It appeared as though Spieth was going to run away and win his second consecutive Masters.  After shooting a front nine 32, Spieth made the turn and made a bogey at number 10.  Spieth played Augusta’s famous “Amen Corner” 3-over par, thanks to a quadruple bogey 7 on the par 3 12th.  His tee shot landed short of the flag and rolled back into Rae’s Creek.  Spieth then hit his 3rd shot after the drop fat which also landed in the creek.  Spieth recovered nicely by birdieing the par 5 13th.  Danny Willett was now the solo leader.
 
Willett was in cruise control for most of his round.  He never hit any shots into trouble.  On the 16th hole, as the new leader, Willet remained composed and sank a 10 foot birdie putt to move to 5-under par.  Willett finished with a bogey-free 67, 2 shots clear of Lee Westwood and Spieth. 
 
Jordan Spieth had one of the worst final round Masters collapses since the 2011 Masters, where Rory McIlroy imploded on the 10th hole.  To add insult to injury, as defending champion, Jordan Spieth had to present Willett with his green jacket.  Although Spieth was upset with his round, he handled himself with class and smiled when he had to.
 
Speaking of McIlroy, he continues to fail to rise to the occasion in big moments.  McIlroy was paired with Spieth in the final round on Saturday but shot himself out of contention with a score of 77.
 
58-year-old Bernhard Langer, who has won the Masters twice before, was in contention until shooting a final round 79.  In a week where Augusta said goodbye to Tom Watson for the final time, another legend kept us excited into the weekend.
 
Golf’s first major may be over, but the PGA Tour rolls on this week with the playing of the RBC Heritage from Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina.  The first round starts this Thursday.
 
Matt Nadworny
@MattN_BBS