PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Jordan Spieth and his world-class short game came up big in a playoff victory Sunday at the Valspar Championship.
Spieth capped off an afternoon of back-nine charges, clutch putts and unseemly par saves by making a 30-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole of a playoff at Innisbrook to beat Ryder Cup teammates Patrick Reed and Sean O'Hair.
"A crazy back nine," said Spieth, who won for the second time in his PGA Tour career and fourth time worldwide to reach a career-high No. 6 in the world.
The 21-year-old Spieth was three shots behind with six holes to play when he made two birdies to catch a faltering Ryan Moore, and then saved par on his final three holes for a 2-under 69 to join the playoff.
Spieth made a tough par save on the 12th, a 10-foot birdie on the 13th and a 30-foot birdie on the par-5 14th to tie for the lead, and then his short game saved him.
Henrik Stenson, in his Innisbrook debut, ran off three birdies in a row and closed with a 67 to fall one shot short of the playoff.
