Ceci Ferrara
June 22, 2015
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Back in April, Jordan Spieth made history at the Masters Tournament when he set the record for most birdies (28) and became the second-youngest person to win the Masters. On Sunday, the 21-year old made history once again when he became the youngest player to win the U.S. Open since 1923. The victory was also monumental as he became the youngest player to ever win both the Masters and U.S. Open in their career; and only the sixth ever to accomplish the feat.
“Every single thing that I’m able to do, somebody seems to find a history lesson on why I was the youngest to do something or as young as somebody way back when,” Spieth said. “For me, this is my life. I’ve now been doing it for a while. I don’t really think of my age.”
Spieth finished 1-under-69 to finish one stroke ahead of fellow American Dustin Johnson and South African Louis Oosthuizen who tied for second. Adam Scott, Branden Grace, and Cameron Smith all tied for fourth while No. 1 ranked golfer Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for ninth.
“I’m in shock,” Spieth said of the victory.
The win was his second straight major this year, completing two legs of the golf “Grand Slam”, a feat not accomplished by any golfer in the modern era. Tiger Woods is the only player to hold all the modern major trophies–Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship–at the same time. But he never did it within the same calendar year.
Spieth has a chance to get closer to the Grand Slam–and history–with a victory at the British Open in St. Andrew’s, Scotland next month. “To go to the home of golf, that’s my sole focus right now,” Spieth said before adding, “But you can’t win them all unless you win the first two.”
Nationals
Less than a week after pitching a complete game shutout, Max Scherzer outdid himself. On Saturday against the Pirates, Scherzer pitched a nearly perfect game. After retiring the first 26 Pittsburgh batters he had just one left before completing the first perfect game in Nationals history.
“It was unbelievable,” said Bryce Harper, who homered in the fourth to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. “He’s as good as advertised every time he goes out there. He’s made for greatness.”
Unfortunately the final batter, pinch-hitter Jose Tabata wasn’t going down without a fight.
Needing just one strike to end the game, Scherzer hit Tabata’s elbow to end his quest for perfection. The next batter, Josh Harrison, hit a soft fly ball to end the game. Though it may not have been perfect, it was Scherzer’s first career no-hitter, and the second in Nats history.
“My last two starts, this is some of the best baseball I’ve thrown,” Scherzer said. “Best pitching I’ve done. I feel like I’m executing with all of my pitches.”
