Golf Results - 2013 July 15

In the United States, the John Deere Classic was won by Tour rookie Jordan Spieth in a five-hole playoff against Zach Johnson and David Hearn.

As the tournament’s final round unfolded on Sunday, 19-year-old Spieth found himself neck-and-neck with two seasoned opponents. When the young American carded a 65 and found himself tied for the lead after eighteen holes, a lengthy playoff ensued.

Faced with his two older rivals, Spieth held his own during the playoff – the rookie player kept the crowd on its toes as he kept up with former Masters Champion Johnson throughout the five extra holes on Sunday. A par at the eighteenth hole was enough to secure a victory for Spieth, who becomes the youngest player to win on the PGA Tour since 1931.

In Europe, Phil Mickelson got the attention of his competitors when he weathered a playoff to win the Scottish Open – his first victory on the Continent in almost two decades.

The American, whose talent and dedication have seen him place in the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings on countless occasions, gave hope to his fans ahead of next week’s British Open when he birdied the first playoff hole to beat South Africa’s Branden Grace and lift the trophy.

A rare slip-up saw Mickelson bogey the last hole on Sunday, with his final score of 69 matching that of Grace. However, as the pair teed off at the first playoff hole the seasoned professional in Mickelson came to the fore – the American landed a perfectly placed wedge shot which rolled back within inches of the hole.

A simple putt for birdie was all that Mickelson needed to secure victory at Castle Stuart, while Grace took second place.  Two Scandinavian players – Joachim Hansen of Denmark and the Swede Henrik Stenson – were tied for third place.

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