One week after missing the cut at the Masters, a refocused Jordan Spieth won on Easter Sunday for the second consecutive year.
Hilton Head Island, SC - Thinking he might have a playoff chance, Jordan Spieth rolled in a 10-foot birdie on the 18th hole in regulation. He scored an even bigger shot at Harbor Town's signature hole in the playoffs to win RBC Heritage.
Spieth's 56-foot shot from the greenside bunker stopped 7 inches away and beat Patrick Cantley at the tap-in par at Lighthouse Hole for his 13th career PGA Tour title on Sunday - and second straight on Easter Sunday.
Sometimes, Spieth said, there's a tournament where you think you've played well, yet not enough to win. "I honestly felt it was that week," he said with a grin. "I needed a lot of things to be right."
And he got them all.
Spieth, aged 13 after his 5-under 66, finished four groups ahead of Cantley and awaits stellar territory with many chances to tie or advance. But not everyone could chase after Spieth except Cantley, who stayed away from seeing much action once he finished.
"Every single putt feels like it's going in," Spieth said. "It was more nerve-racking than actually playing."
Spieth was certain he would be passed by FedEx Cup champion Kentley; Past British Open winner Shane Lowry or third round leader Harold Warner III. When all three offered the best chance for a birdie on par-5, 15th, back nine, Spieth felt his chances improved.
When Spieth finished, he was one stroke behind Shane Lowry. But on the 14th par-3, Lori's chip ran into the green and into the water, causing a double bogey. He returned a stroke after 69.
After Kentley, tied for the lead after a birdie on the 17th, hit his approach on the green on his closing hole of regulation, Spieth went out to loosen, certain he would be called back when Cantley took the winning putt. Make.
Instead, Cantley slammed it to the right to set up the playoffs.
In the playoffs, Cantley also hit in the front bunker, his lie looking like a fried egg. He blasted 35 feet ahead of the cup and missed the par put.
Cantley was 179 yards from the hole in the playoffs and used a 9-iron as he had done in regulation a while back. This shot, came off the green and in a terrible state.
"Obviously, with it plugged in like this, it's impossible to get close," Cantley said.
Three strokes after Warner entered the round, Spieth eagled both front-nine par 5s to get into the mix.
Spieth won his last event, the Valero Texas Open, over Easter, ending a four-year winless drought.
Next Easter Sunday? Masters Final Round.
"It's good vibes," said three-time major champion Spieth.
Cam Davis (63) also Warner (70), J.T. Poston (64), Cameron Young (66), Sepp Straka (68), Matt Kutcher (68).
Spieth has won from the first bunker. He defeated Daniel Berger with a greenside bunker shot on the first extra hole at the 2017 Travelers Championship.
Other than Cantley, who missed a 15-foot score for a birdie on his 72nd hole, he had a chance to catch Spieth. Straka tied up Spieth at 13 under with a birdie on the 13th, then bogeyed in the final hole when his approach found some tall grass in front of the green. Warner had birdie chances on each of his last four holes, yet could not convert any of them.
Spieth took off with the early Eagles. On the second hole, he exited a greenside bunker. On the fifth hole, he reached the green in two and rolled 24 feet as cheers echoed across the gallery.
Spieth reached 13 under with a birdie on the eighth and fell to 11 under with a bogey on the ninth and 11th. He moved into striking position with a birdie on the 13th, then reached 10 feet to the drama-filled lighthouse hole and positioned under the 13th.
He came this week, upset about missing the cut at last week's Augusta Nationals. "I hated it," he said. "It was the worst feeling. It was the worst feeling I had as a golfer, which I can't remember."
He turned in Harbor Town in front of a happy, sold-out crowd, whom Spieth said was four-deep during his pro round on Wednesday.
"I was really surprised by the support everyone got this week, and I felt it a lot personally," Spieth said. "These crowds were just fantastic to be a non-dominant."
Spieth has only played the tournament three times since 2015 as it always comes after a grueling Masters week.
"What a great tournament to win," Spieth said. "It's an amazing golf course."