AUGUSTA, Georgia — The most important round in Jordan Spieth's young career began with a little perspective from his caddie. Spieth's former golf team at the University of Texas was playing a match Sunday in California at Pasatiempo Golf Club south of San Francisco. Spieth would have been in his final year at Texas if not for dropping out early to try to make a living on the PGA Tour. As they stood on the first tee, Spieth said Michael Greller told him: “Aren't you glad you're not at Pasatiempo right now?“ Looks like it was a good career move for the 21-year-old Texan, who ended Sunday wearing the green jacket. After having a laugh about where they were, and just how they got there, Spieth birdied the first hole and was on his way to a performance that ranks among the best at the Masters. He set scoring records for 36 holes (130) and 54 holes (200), and a bogey on the final hole Sunday meant he had to share the record for 72 holes (270) with Tiger Woods. He had the lowest start by a champion (64). He made more birdies (28) in one tournament than anyone in 78 previous Masters. The only number that really mattered to Spieth was 42 — his jacket size. “It's the most incredible week of my life,” Spieth said. “This is as great as it gets in our sport.” But even as he tried to fathom all he accomplished, it was that joke on the first tee that was even more difficult to comprehend. Spieth turned pro in late 2012 without a PGA Tour card and no idea where the road would take him. It led to victory as a 19-year-old rookie, to being selected as the youngest American to play in the Presidents Cup, to the final group at the Masters in his debut last year and losing a two-shot lead with 11 holes to play. “It's all run together. It all happened quickly,” Spieth said. It was the disappointment of last year that ultimately carried him to a four-shot victory Sunday. He watched Bubba Watson celebrate another Masters title, and all the perks and celebrity that came with it. He knew that could have been him. He was runner-up in the Texas Open and lost in a playoff at the Houston Open before arriving to Augusta. This year was different. There was only one shaky moment. Spieth was four shots ahead and looking at a two-shot swing on the 16th when Rose had 15 feet for birdie and Spieth faced an 8-foot putt for par. Rose missed. Spieth made. He was on his way. It's tempting to declare Spieth as golf's next big star after such a performance and the elite company he joins. In the last century, only four players have three PGA Tour titles that include a major before turning 22 — Spieth, Woods, Tom Creavy and Gene Sarazen. He was the first wire-to-wire winner at Augusta in 39 years. He already is No. 2 in the world, and he still has work to do to reach Rory McIlroy at No. 1. Golf is craving a rivalry, and this has all the trappings of one, especially because the world ranking has never had No. 1 and No. 2 both 25 or younger. It's worth waiting to see if other young players emerge the rest of the year in the majors, such as Jason Day or even Hideki Matsuyama, who finished fifth. — AP
