Geoff Ogilvy said it and Jordan Spieth proved it.
The 21-year-old American realised the Victorian’s prophecy when he soared to a record-breaking victory in the US Masters, taking a commanding four shot win over Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson.
Along the way Spieth laid out a string of records:
- He was the youngest 18 hole leader and his opening round of 64 was the second lowest opening round in Masters history.
- His 36-hole score of 130 was the lowest score in a major and the lowest ever in the Masters.
- His 54-hole score of 200 (16 under par) was the lowest in Masters history.
- When he birdied the 15th he became the only man at the Masters to reach 19 under the card. Spieth eventually surrendered that record with a bogey at the final hole but still tied the Masters record aggregate low of 270 – 18 under the card.
- Spieth becomes the second youngest best man to win at Augusta – he is just five months younger than Tiger Woods was when he won the 1997 Masters.
Ogilvy predicted all of this and more recently when he said golf was more exciting now than at any time in my life – and that includes when Tiger Woods was in his prime.
"The last four years have been a great period for golf because everyone is looking past just one guy (Woods)," Ogilvy said.
"It’s great for golf. For 10 or 15 years everyone had been looking at one guy and no one saw anyone else.
"Golf is in the best place it’s been in my life."
The 2006 US Open winner credits Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy with changing the game but now Spieth has muscled into the action.
"Every 10 or 12 years someone comes along and raises the standard again and it feels like Rory has done that. Now Jordan is right there with him," Ogilvy said.
"It used to be that guys got better through their 20s and started winning in their 30s. Now these guys are good to go – Rory, Jordan, Ricky Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day …"
After Spieth’s two-round total of 14-under-par at the Masters Ogilvy was stunned.
"It was entertaining to watch the birdies go up on the leaderboard, to be honest," he said.
Spieth completed a wire-to-wire victory in the US Masters but admitted to nerves before the final round.
"It was very nerve-racking, I didn’t sleep well last night," he said. "It’s been the most incredible week of my life. I’m still kind of in shock."
Rose said he is surprised Spieth has managed so much so young. "It shouldn’t be that easy so you take your hat off and marvel at him," the Englishman said.
Spieth always maintained at least a three shot cushion over the field. When Rose attacked, Spieth always responded immediately keeping his rivals well away.
Last year Spieth won the Australian Open, a tournament he credits with changing his career.
In brutal windy conditions on the final day the personable young American shot a staggering 63. Ogilvy said before the start of that day even par would be "a wonderful score."
Spieth broke the course record and his six shot margin at The Australian tied the tournament record.
And he had competition. Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and a host of locals who knew the course backwards.
“I could play it 100 instances and in no way sniff 63,” tweeted Rory McIlroy, who shot 72.
That was the day Spieth took a major turn.
"It had been a year-and-a-half given that I won, and that was at the John Deere Classic, exactly where I sort of sneaked in, fortunately (he won a playoff by holing out from a bunker).
"To go down there against an elite field, with Rory and Adam Scott and a lot of other native Australian players who had been truly excellent, that was really big," Spieth said .
"I had a feeling of patience that day that I hadn’t had prior to.”
Until now.
By: Robert Grant