Spieth clinches 1st British Open

Spieth clinches 1st British Open

Jordan Spieth wins his first British Open following a thrilling showdown with Matt Kuchar.

At the start of the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport. Jordan Spieth was in pole position to win the tournament.

Spieth aged 24, was the youngest player coming into this tournament.

But things did not go according to plan for the three-time major champion as he got off to a bad start dropping three shots on the first four holes.

It was a seesaw battle between two Americans Spieth and Matt Kuchar, who were aiming to win the Open Championship the first time in their career.

On the 9th hole, Spieth was level par with Kuchar on -8. This continued for the next four holes before Spieth dropped a shot on the 13th where he drove the ball 120 yards left of the fairway and into the rough. 

After a long conversation with the R&A officials, Spieth took a penalty drop shot, which was his third and drove it on the green to make bogey. 

This could have had an impact on Kuchar's performance as the delay stopped the momentum of the game he was playing.

This was the start of a magnificent comeback from Spieth as the next four holes went for three birdies and an eagle to put him into the lead ahead of Kuchar.  

Spieth was determined to win this tournament, he even told his caddy to pick the ball out of the hole on the 13th 'Go get that'.

It was from there that Spieth took the advantage by moving 3 shots ahead of Kuchar to inch ever so close to lifting one of golf's most famous trophies. 

He finally sealed it with a par on the 18th to take home the Claret Jug with a three shot lead. Spieth was ecstatic with his win.

'Boy, what a tremendous five holes. I'll thoroughly enjoy this. It's as much of a high as I've ever experienced. I'll enjoy it more than anything I've achieved."

The world number 2 cherished his victory by praising his caddy Michael Greller. 'I'd like to thank my caddy Michael .' "Today took as much out of me as any day that I've ever played golf,"

"Thoughts came in from my last scenario (The Masters 2016) when I was leading a major on Sunday. All of a sudden it creeps into your head.'

There was also a record breaking moment on the final day as Brandon Grace became the first man to achieve a score of 62 in the final round of a major. But it proved to be in vain as he wasn't able to stay in contention throughout the previous three rounds to have a chance of lifting the Claret Jug on Sunday because these types of performances would usually mean you had a great chance of winning the tournament. 

What an extraordinary finish to a major championship.

Wimbledon 2017 Review

King Of The Court Rules Wimbledon Once Again

Federer beats Cilic to claim eighth Wimbledon title 

History was made at SW19 as Roger Federer won an record breaking 8th Wimbledon title surpassing the great Pete Sampras. The Swiss beat Croatia's Marian Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and 41minutes on Centre  Court. 

Cilic came into the final having beaten the big serving American Sam Querrey, who knocked out defending champion Andy Murray in a brutal five setter in the quarterfinals.

Federer on the other hand had a far more easier route where he beat Milos Raonic in the quarters in three sets and Tomas Berdych in the semis, also in three sets.

The world number 2 went into the final attempting to become the most successful Wimbledon mens champion. All four kids were there to see their father make history on Centre Court. He certainly looked to be on his way with a double-break in the first set in which he went on to win by 6-3.

Pretty soon after Federer went two sets up breaking in the 28 year old's serve not once but 3 times winning a sequence of 5 games starting from the end of the first set and into the middle of the second which he comfortably took by 6 games to 1.

Cilic seamed to be struggling with a foot injury in the third set which seemed to be upset him badly, but he chose to resume playing after a medical timeout after the second set. But it proved to be in vain as Federer broke from 0-15 in the seventh game of third set and took it by 6 games to 4 to end a five year drought without a Wimbledon title which was his eighth in total.

For Federer, it was a masterclass on Centre Court. It seamed like the Federer who was dominating world tennis in the early 2000s had returned. As for Cllic, it was a day of frustration and some missed opportunities, especially in the opening game of the set where he had some opportunities to break Federer's serve but was unable to take them.

The Swiss showed some sympathy for Cilic and praised him for his overall performance.'It is cruel sometimes, 'Marin fought well and is a hero, so congratulations on a wonderful tournament.'

Last year, most people thought that Federer was on his last legs, especially after the injury he picked up from bathing his kids. He has certainly proved the critics wrong by winning his fifth Australian Open and now his eighth Wimbledon title. What a player and what a sportsman he has become.

Amar Patel