AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 10: Jordan Spieth walks with his caddie Michael Greller up the 18th hole during the final round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2016 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images for Golfweek)
GolfBy Fred Segal on

It was one of the worst Masters final round collapses of all time, and probably the most unbelievable one.  The level of unfathomability of Jordan Spieth blowing a five stroke lead at the turn on Sunday at the Masters was as high as possible.  But it happened; and left in its wake was a transcript of Cold Takes that Cold Take enthusiasts (yes, there are very few that exist) normally dream about.

By the time the 2016 Masters commenced, the 22-year old Spieth was already near the top of golf’s mountain. In 2015, he took the PGA Tour by storm.  His first major victory, the 2015 Masters, was a domination unseen in Augusta since Tiger Woods 18 years prior.  Spieth was the wire-to-wire leader finishing with an absurd 18-under 270, tying Woods’ 1997 tournament record. He also broke the Masters record for lowest score after three rounds with a 14-under 200.  Spieth followed up his Masters win by winning the 2015 U.S. Open, his second major. He then won The Tour Championship and finished second at the PGA Championship behind Jason Day. With a total of six tournament championships, Spieth swept almost all end of the year PGA accolades, including Player of the Year and Tour Player of the Year.

Fast forward to April 2016. When Spieth drained a 21-foot putt on the 9th hole during the final round of the 2016 Masters (a course that he obliterated one yer prior) for his fourth straight birdie to take a five stroke lead, it was a near certainty to just about everyone that he would be taking home his second straight green jacket.  What people didn’t expect, was the seemingy unflappable Spieth bogeying the 10th and 11th holes then hitting his a tee shot into the water on 12 to eventually score a massive quadruple bogey. After the disasterous hole, he was four strokes back of the lead and never recovered.  The benefactor of Spieth’s epic collapse: Danny Willett, who took home the green jacket and his first major win.

To just list all of the tweets crowning Spieth the winner during the final round in chronological order would not do this justice. No, these needed to be broken down in categories. Below are is a categorical collection of tweets mostly beginning from when Spieth sank the putt to give him five stroke lead going into the 10th hole.

  • Ability to withstand pressure; a closer

One of the narratives that materialized throughout Spieth’s blistering run through the PGA over the previous year was his ability to constantly hit clutch shots and never be deterred by pressure.  It seemed that he was unflappable, a robot who never feels emotion; he was a closer, like Tiger Woods in his prime. To some, there was no concievable way he would choke…

  • Boring; He’s ruining Sunday at the Masters

The old adage is that the Masters doesn’t really begin until the back nine on Sunday.  The problem in this situation was that it seemed like Spieth aready had it won before the 10th hole, ruining the fun for the viewers.  Some expressed their annoyance and frustration with the lack of excitement…

https://twitter.com/jamesneveau/status/719269790041432064

  • Just give him the Green Jacket

One of the great traditions in all of sports is that the winner of the Masters is awarded a green Masters jacket.  Many were ready to hand Spieth the jacket…

  • People in Europe heading off to sleep

It was getting late overseas, and since Spieth had such a big lead some of the folks watching in Europe felt it was safe to go to bed…

  • It’s Over; Best of the Rest

Here is some of the best of the rest.  Declarations, coronations, you name it…

https://twitter.com/peterburnsespn/status/719269680368730112

 

And how about some of these same folks after Spieth’s meltdown…

Life comes at everyone fast sometimes it appears.

About Fred Segal

Fred Segal, 35, grew up in the Miami, Florida area and currently lives in Coral Springs, Florida, with his wife and two children. He is currently an attorney practicing in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the law firm Broad and Cassel. Fred is a graduate of the University of Florida and is a rabid, borderline unhealthy, supporter of the Florida Gators.

View all posts by Fred Segal