Masters rebound for Jordan Spieth at RBC Heritage?
Wednesday 15 April 2015 18:11, UK
Traditionally, newly crowned major winners take a period of time away from the game to relax and celebrate their success, but for only the fourth time in 20 years, the RBC Heritage will have the new Masters champion teeing off in their event this week.
Jordan Spieth has had a whirlwind few days since his four-shot victory at Augusta on Sunday but has honoured his commitment to featuring at Harbour Town, becoming the first Green Jacket holder to do so since Zach Johnson eight years ago.
The 21-year-old spent two days in New York making numerous TV appearances after winning his maiden major title, but heads to South Carolina targeting a third PGA Tour victory in six weeks.
While recent form would suggest the Texan, who has also posted two second place finishes in that time, is the man to beat this week, recent history has shown major champions tend to struggle when making an immediate return to action.
Not since Bernhard Langer’s play-off victory over Bobby Wadkins 30 years ago has a player followed up Masters success with another the following week, with only a handful of golfers having achieved the feat of backing up a major victory with a further win seven days later.
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While Johnson missing the cut in 2008 was the last time a Masters champion was seen the next week on the PGA Tour, Charl Schwartzel is the most recent to make an immediate return to action on the European Tour. The South African shot a one-over 73 in his opening round after claiming the Green Jacket in 2011 and eventually finished tied-11th in Harbour Town, some nine strokes adrift of Matteo Manassero.
Nick Faldo (twice), Ian Woosnam and Mark O’Meara all failed to muster a top-15 finish between them when they played the week after Augusta glory, while Vijay Singh, the only other Masters champion since 1990 to compete the next week, came tied-third in his appearance at the 2000 MCI Classic.
Away from Augusta
Rory McIlroy’s three-in-a-row last summer that cemented his place as the world’s No 1 included WGC-Bridgestone Invitational victory sandwiched between two major titles, although the Northern Irishman had taken a week off between his Open success and winning in Ohio.
The only other player in the past five years to triumph in their first post-major event was Martin Kaymer, as he took a four-shot win at the KLM Open four weeks after lifting the PGA Championship trophy.
Unsurprisingly when discussing records, 14-time major winner Tiger Woods is the only man this century to have won a major and a tour title in successive weeks, having done so in 2000 and 2006.
On both occasions, the former world No 1 followed up winning the PGA Championship by claiming World Golf Championship silverware, then branded the WGC-NEC Invitational, firing a course record on his way to an 11-stroke win the first time round.
Hale Irwin, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh complete the limited list of those who have acheived instant post-Masters glory, but can Spieth break the mould and join that elite group this week?
Will Jordan Spieth create another piece of history at this week’s RBC Heritage? Watch live from April 16-19 live on Sky Sports 4 – your home of golf.
