Spieth finished on 18 under, four shots clear of Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose. Rory McIlroy finished on 12 under after making a final-round charge.
The Northern Irishman was the world’s number-one player at the time but was replaced by Spieth in August 2015. The American also won the US Open at Chambers Bay and finished second at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights. Spieth also placed third at The Open.
For the first time since Tiger Woods’ heyday, a genuine superstar was emerging within professional golf.
Immediately after his maiden major win at the Masters, Spieth was asked about McIlroy and the potential rivalry that could develop between them.
“We all root for each other,” Spieth said.
“And it’s not like I’m out there with Patrick Reed saying I hope he misses his putt. It’s, I hope I make this, and I hope I make two in a row on top.
“That’s just kind of the mentality we all have as younger guys coming out now. More comfortable than junior golf tours, college golf, and amateur golf have grown, and it’s gotten much better, and that’s the reason you’re seeing it. I don’t think that it has anything to do with players being out or absent from tournaments.
“I think it has to do with a great overall preparation through these different tours now where you kind of almost play it like a PGA Tour event the way it’s structured.”
Spieth went on to admit that he would never be able to do some of the things McIlroy does on the course.
“As far as with Rory, he’s got four majors. That’s something I can still only dream about, and just numerous wins. I’ll never hit it as far as he does, and I have to make up for that somewhere else. He’s an unbelievably nice guy. Carries that World No. 1 with class,” Spieth added.
“I don’t know, as far as a rivalry right now. Look forward to getting in the heat of the moment with him a couple of times in the near future and see if we can battle it out and test our games.”
