Jordan Spieth’s form may not be as strong as it was before, but he can still deliver some magic every now and then.

Jordan Spieth Beat Daniel Berger In A Playoff With a 60-foot Shot for Birdie

On Sunday, the 23-year-old Texan hit an impressive 60-foot shot for birdie from the green-side bunker on the 18th hole at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT to win the Travelers Championship in a playoff against Daniel Berger. Spieth — a two-time major champion — celebrated his fantastic drive by throwing his club and chest-bumping his caddie Michael Greller. 

“That was one for the ages,” said Spieth, who won the AT&T Pro-Am Tournament at Pebble Beach in February. The youngster couldn’t even see the hole from where he took the shot.

The PGA Tour Twitter account called it the “shot of the year:”

Justin Thomas — another 23-year-old PGA Tour golfer — predicted Spieth’s ace on Twitter moments before the shot happened. Here is what Thomas — a Kentucky native and University of Alabama alum who is the World No. 8 — tweeted shortly before Spieth’s big ace:

Spieth led by one stroke after each of the first three rounds on Sunday. The 2015 Masters and U.S. Open winner finished with an even-par 70 to tie Berger — who birdied three of the last six holes for a 67 — to tie Berger at 12-under 268.

Berger — who won the FedEx St. Jude Classic two weeks ago before missing the cut last week at the U.S. Open — narrowly missed a 50-foot putt from off the 18th green left that would have forced a second playoff hole.

“Jordan does Jordan things,” said Berger, who won PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2015. “So there’s not really much you can say. I’m obviously disappointed, but happy to be in the position I was in today.”

The 24-year-old Florida native entered the round in third place, thee shots behind. Berger matched Spieth for an advantage with a 5-foot birdie putt on the 15th while Spieth bogeyed on the 14th, and tied Spieth again with a birdie from eight feet at the 17th.

On the final hole, Berger hit his approach shot into the same bunker as Spieth, and also saved par to force the playoff.

Berger struck his drive on the first playoff hole left and into the crowd behind a fairway bunker. His approach then flew off the green toward the left.

“If I was in Berger’s shoes, I would be cursing Jordan Spieth right now for the break off the tee and then holing a 30-yard bunker shot, that’s a lot of luck,” Spieth said.

Greller, who reiterated Berger’s assessment of Spieth, also reminded the latter before he took his final shot on Sunday that “magic happens here.”

Spieth and Tiger Woods are now the only PGA golfers to reach ten victories in the Tour era before the age of 24 since World War II. Woods won 15 times before his 24th birthday.

Sunday’s victory also marked Spieth’s first win in a tournament debut. Phil Blackmar was the previous golfer to claim the Travelers Championship in his first start in 1985.

Spieth also had some mediocre shots on Sunday, however. His first came on the 13th hole, when his drive flew right but remained on the side of a hill to steer clear of the water. He missed a seven-foot birdie putt, but saved par.

The Texan then hit his tee shot on the 15th left, narrowly missing the water and the hazard line in the rough. He chipped to the middle of the green and recorded a 16-foot putt for birdie, which he initially believed he had missed.

Spieth’s shot at 17 initially seemed like it would end up in the lake, although the ball ultimately fell right on the edge of the green and he made par.

“That’s a lot of luck,” Spieth said. “But I took advantage of the good breaks and am happy to come out on top.”

Spieth took home $1.2 million for winning the Travelers on Sunday. He previously made a hole-in-one from a bunker in 2013 at the John Deere Classic in Illinois:

Charley Hoffman (66) and Danny Lee (67) tied for third, three strokes back.

Grayson Murray logged the Travelers’ lone hole-in-one. The 23-year-old North Carolina native sank the 177-yard eighth hole in one shot to record his first ace on tour. Murray shot a 68 to finish at 5 under.

Spieth will next compete at the Open Championship in Southport, England on July 20.

CROMWELL, CT – JUNE 25: Jordan Spieth of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 25, 2017 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The 2017 Travelers Championship, part of the PGA Tour, kicks off at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut this week, and some of the world’s top golfers have already gathered to play a practice round on Tuesday. They will also play a preliminary round on Wednesday.

Travelers Championship 2017 Preview and Schedule Info

The Travelers purse for 2017 is $6.8 million, with the winner set to take $1.224 million ($200,000 more than last year’s purse).

TPC River Highlands is still a stock par 70 and is 6,841 yards long. This year, 156 golfers will compete on the course.

According to the PGA Tour’s website, here are the Power Rankings for the 2017 Travelers Championship based on the following players’ performance at this year’s U.S. Open, which finished in Erin Hills, Wisconsin on Sunday (Brooks Koepka won the Open for his first-ever major title):

1) Justin Thomas

2) Paul Casey

3) Brandt Snedeker

4) Marc Leishman

5) Rory McIlroy

6) Charley Hoffman

7) Brendan Steele

8) Jordan Spieth

9) Brian Harman

10) Jason Day

11) Daniel Berger

12) Patrick Reed

13) Bubba Watson

14) Graham DeLaet

15) Tony Finau

How can you watch the Travelers Championship this year? Here is all the info you need for the tournament, the first round of which officially begins on Thursday (June 22):

Thursday, June 22 / Friday, June 23

TV: Golf Channel, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET

Streaming:

PGA Tour Live Featured Groups, ~7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET

PGA Tour Live Featured Holes, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET

Golf Channel simulcast stream, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 24 / Sunday, June 25

TV: Golf Channel, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET; CBS, 3 to 6 p.m. ET

Streaming:

PGA Tour Live Featured Holes, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET

Golf Channel simulcast stream, 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET

PGA Tour Live/CBS simulcast stream, 3 to 6 p.m. ET

Here is the full schedule for the tournament:

Tuesday, June 20, 2017:

PRACTICE ROUND FOR PGA TOUR PROFESSIONALS
All Day | TPC River Highlands

PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE MATCHES
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | The Karl Krapek Family Learning Links
Six local teams compete in PGA Junior league matches.

FARMINGTON BANK FAMILY DAY
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | TPC River Highlands Practice Facility
Join us for a fun-filled day of golf activities during the Farmington Bank Family Day. Family Day will once again feature a variety of golf vendors brought to you by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop. Kids 15 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

OPERATION SHOWER PRESENTED BY CONNECTICARE®
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | The First Tee of Connecticut David & Geri Epstein Learning Center
The Travelers Championship will host a special baby shower for 40 expectant military moms with the support of ConnectiCare®. Each of the moms will be showered with gifts from local and national sponsors. Travelers is also a supporting sponsor of this event. The event will feature celebrity host, Rosie Pope. *Invitation Required.

EVERSOURCE PGA TOUR PLAYER EXPERIENCE FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | The Karl Krapek Family Learning Links & TPC River Highlands Practice Facility
We are pleased to announce that the Eversource PGA TOUR Player Experience for Junior Golfers is back for 2017. This experience will again include an enhanced schedule and greater opportunity for junior golfers to interact with PGA TOUR professionals.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017:

TRAVELERS CELEBRITY PRO-AM
Morning Tee Times | 6:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. and Afternoon Tee Times | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am features PGA TOUR professionals and celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment along with amateur golfers, providing a unique experience for all.

KIRK AND CALLAHAN SHOW
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Travelers Championship Radio Deck
WEEI’s morning talk show from Boston will broadcast live from TPC River Highlands on WEEI. The show will feature interviews from PGA TOUR professionals, tournament officials and celebrities.

BIRDIES FOR THE BRAVE MILITARY CADDIE PROGRAM
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | 17th Hole
Through the support of Trinity Health Of New England, the Travelers Championship will offer a special Military Caddie Program on Wednesday for active duty military. Military Service Members will have the opportunity to go inside the ropes and caddie for a PGA TOUR professional on the 17^th hole during the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am. All caddies will wear Birdies for the Brave branded camouflage caddie bibs and get to experience a PGA TOUR event “inside the ropes.”

FARMINGTON BANK CELEBRITY MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT
9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. | MetroHartford Alliance Fan Zone/Farmington Bank Kids Zone
The Farmington Bank Celebrity Mini Golf Tournament will take place on the Mini Golf Course in the Farmington Bank Kids Zone. Hosted by Tim Wakefield, Renee DiNino from iHeart Communities will emcee the event. Special guests will include Dane DeHaan and Tyler Hoechlin. The event will consist of two waves: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. On-air personalities from the local and national media and special guests are invited to compete for a chance to designate a donation to the charity of their choice. $2,500 will be donated to the winning teams’ charity for each shotgun.

OFF-SITE PRO-AM
10:00 a.m. | GreatHorse, Hampden, MA
This off-site Pro-Am is an exclusive event where guests will be playing with a PGA TOUR professional during Travelers Championship week at dramatic GreatHorse. Participating in this unique experience will ultimately provide guests with an inside look at what it takes to play on the PGA TOUR. In addition to a day of golf, participants will enjoy a post-play reception at the GreatHorse Clubhouse.

102.9 THE WHALE LIVE BROADCASTS
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Across from the Merchandise Tent

WFAN 660 PRESENTS THE JOE & EVAN SHOW
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Clubhouse Patio
WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts will broadcast live from TPC River Highlands.

FEDEX JUNIOR BUSINESS CHALLENGE
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | The First Tee of Connecticut David & Geri Epstein Learning Center
A program in conjunction with the PGA TOUR, students ranging from 15-18 years old will pitch their team’s business concept to a panel of judges consisting of a PGA TOUR player and a variety of successful business leaders. The panel will evaluate each team’s business pitch and select one JA Company to move onto the FedEx Junior Business Challenge Finals in September.

Thursday, June 22, 2017:

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
Morning Tee Times | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and Afternoon Tee Times | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The First Round of the 2017 Travelers Championship begins on Thursday, with PGA TOUR Professionals teeing off in groups of three on holes no. 1 and no. 10.

WDRC PRESENTS THE BRAD AND DAN SHOW
5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Patriots’ Outpost
Brad Davis and Dan Lovallo will interview tournament officials, key partners and outpost guests while broadcasting their talk show live from the Patriots’ Outpost.

WOMEN’S DAY PRESENTED BY TRAVELERS
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Pro-Am Tent
The eighth annual Women’s Day presented by Travelers will feature global entrepreneur Tory Burch and celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern for a sold out breakfast. The day will also feature tours of the Golf Channel studios, golf clinics geared specifically for women (1:00 p.m. on the practice facility), preferred bleacher seating and discounts in the merchandise tent.

HYPE’S TEE IT UP FOR CHARITY
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Pro-Am Tent
Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) will host a special reception at the Travelers Championship, which will raise money for local charities including First Tee of Connecticut, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England and KNOX.

LIBERTY BANK CONCERT SERIES FEATURING DRAKE WHITE AND THE BIG FIRE
Approx. 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | MetroHartford Alliance Fan Zone
Live Music After Play! After the last putt drops, stay for the live concert and enjoy great music to end the day.

Friday, June 23, 2017:

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND
Morning Tee Times | 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and Afternoon Tee Times | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
During the Second Round of the 2017 Travelers Championship, PGA TOUR Professionals will tee off in groups of three on holes no. 1 and no. 10. Check back during tournament week for the official tee times and pairings.

SPORTS INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Clubhouse Patio
Heard weekly across the region, Ann interviews authors, athletes, coaches, celebrities and experts on all sorts of topics pertaining to sports, fitness and wellness. “Sports Innerview” is the longest-running sports show hosted, owned and produced by a woman.

K9S FOR WARRIORS PRESENTED BY STRYKER
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Patriots’ Outpost
The Travelers Championship will host a special presentation by Stryker. Stryker will continue to give a new leash on life to military heroes by sponsoring service canines and empowering veterans to return to civilian life with dignity and independence. On Friday, June 23, you’re invited to Stryker’s military appreciation ceremony during the Travelers Championship, where Stryker will present a vest and $20,000 donation for the sponsorship of a service dog to K9s For Warriors.

AFTERNOONS WITH TODD FEINBURG
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA 19th Hole Sponsor Club
The WTIC Newstalk 1080 afternoon show will broadcast live from the Michelob Ultra 19th Hole Sponsor Club on Friday of tournament week. Todd talks about everything relevant and relatable to the local community, its residents, and businesses.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD ROUND
Tee Times | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
During the Third Round of the 2017 Travelers Championship, PGA TOUR Professionals will tee off in groups of two on hole no. 1 and their tee time is based on their current place on the leaderboard heading into the weekend. The tee times are structured with the leaders teeing off last on Saturday and each group before them being the closest in position to the lead.

THE FIRST TEE OF CONNECTICUT PATRON’S BREAKFAST
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | The First Tee of Connecticut David & Geri Epstein Learning Center
Registration opens at 8:30a.m.  | Program runs from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The First Tee of Connecticut will hold a private event on Saturday morning in The First Tee of Connecticut David & Geri Epstein Learning Center. This event will honor past and current donors of The First Tee of Connecticut and showcase The First Tee facilities.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY SPONSORED BY HARTFORD HEALTHCARE
5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Pro-Am Tent
This year’s Volunteer Appreciation Party will take place on Saturday evening and will feature Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and NoRA Cupcake Company.  In show of appreciation for the volunteers, door prizes will be given away. The 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award will also be presented, along with other volunteer awards. Thanks to Hartford HealthCare for supporting the volunteer party!

LIBERTY BANK CONCERT SERIES FEATURING GIN BLOSSOMS
Approx. 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | MetroHartford Alliance Fan Zone
Live Music After Play! After the last putt drops, stay for the live concert and enjoy great music to end the day.

Sunday, June 25, 2017:

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND
Tee Times | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
In the Final Round of the 2017 Travelers Championship, PGA TOUR Professionals will tee off in groups of two on hole no. 1 and their tee time is based on their current place on the leaderboard after the Third Round. The leader at the end of the round will be crowned the champion of the 2017 Travelers Championship.

PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH 18-HOLE STROLL
7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Pro-Am Tent
The Pancreatic Cancer Research 18-Hole Stroll will take place on Sunday around the golf course at TPC River Highlands. This event raises money for the Lustgarten Foundation’s pancreatic cancer research.

CLOSING CEREMONY
Approx. 6:00 p.m. | 18th Green
The 2017 Travelers Championship will conclude with a ceremony on the 18th green where the champion is awarded the tournament trophy and $1.224 million.

Finally, here are the odds for the 2017 Travelers’ Championship, per Bovada:

Jordan Spieth: 8/1
Rory McIlroy: 9/1
Jason Day: 10/1
Justin Thomas: 10/1
Paul Casey: 20/1
Brandt Snedeker: 28/1
Patrick Reed: 28/1
Brian Harman: 33/1
Bubba Watson: 33/1
Marc Leishman: 33/1
Daniel Berger: 33/1
Brendan Steele: 35/1
Bud Cauley: 45/1
Kyle Stanley: 45/1
Graham Delaet: 50/1
Webb Simpson: 50/1
Zach Johnson: 60/1

CROMWELL, CT – AUGUST 07: Russell Knox of Scotland hits his shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TCP River Highlands on August 7, 2016 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)