Spieth Wins Seventh PGA Tour, Ties Woods

Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year and had no trouble winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in record-tying fashion on Sunday.

Staked to a five-shot lead, Spieth made two straight birdies around the turn at Kapalua to restore his margin, and he spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up the views of surf and sun on Maui. The view from the top is just as stunning at the moment -- but not so much for those trying to catch him.

Spieth made an 8-foot birdie putt to reach his target, though he didn't need it. He closed with a 6-under 67 for an 8-shot victory over Patrick Reed. He finished at 30-under 262 and joined Ernie Els as the only players in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30-under or better. Els set his record of 31-under with an eight-shot win at Kapalua in 2003.

"I felt like it was short, three-week break and continue what we were doing last year," said Spieth, who is coming off a five-win season that included the Masters and U.S. Open. "That's the way I'll keep on thinking about it. It worked this week. All parts were firing."

Spieth won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour and joined Tiger Woods as the only players to record that many wins by age 22 since complete records began in 1970.

Spieth won his seventh title in his 77th start as a pro. Woods won his seventh PGA Tour event in his 38th start, and he had 18 wins in his first 77 tournaments. Even so, comparisons with Woods can only mean great play, and no one is playing better.