Jordan Spieth has Rory in his sights

• Spieth leads from start to finish to win Hero World Challenge
• Victory is the 21-year-old’s second in eight days
• How has his sights set on overtaking McIlroy at top of rankings

Jordan Spieth made it two wins in two weeks at the Hero World Challenge – then set his sights on overtaking Rory McIlroy at the top of the world rankings.

The 21-year-old closed with a sublime seven-under 66 to finish on 26-under-par at Isleworth and win by ten shots from runner-up Henrik Stenson.

That, coupled with his fine win in the Australian Open seven days earlier, has seen the Texan climb into the top ten of the official world golf rankings and he is targeting even greater progress on that front in 2015.

“In order to take it to the next level and try and win majors, I’ve got to look to Rory,” said Spieth. “He’s the youngest guy, the one with the most success.  He’s No. 1 in the world and setting the bar. He’s the one we’re all chasing.

“I think I did a good job of starting that chase these last couple weeks. That’s only really the beginning of what needs to happen for the ultimate goal, which is to overtake him.”

“I will have to play at least this well if not better to win a major championship.” – Jordan Spieth

He added: “It’s really cool to work my way into the top ten. I think, after Augusta, I was at seven and I kind of maintained around seven to ten or 11 for a while, and then fell down to 14 before last week.

“To crack the top ten , that’s a tremendous honour. Winning two tournaments and moving up five spots shows me exactly what it’ll take to try and get up to that No.1 spot.”

Buoyed by his end-of-year exploits, Spieth admits that his confidence is at an all-time high.

“Right now it’s at its highest level that it’s ever been,” he said. “I believe there are things that I can do better and I will have to play at least this well if not better to win a major championship.

“That’s obviously a goal that I’ve gotten close to now and didn’t quite win. Now, maybe if I get that lead, I can draw on this experience of building on that.”

Jordan Spieth :: A major winner in 2015?

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor