KAPALUA, Hawaii – Jordan Spieth brought his old form to the new year and had no trouble winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions 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, not so much for those trying to catch him.

Spieth made an 8-foot birdie putt to reach his target, even though he didn’t need it. He closed with a 6-under 67 for an eight-shot victory over Patrick Reed. He finished at 30-under 262, joining Ernie Els as the only players in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30 under or lower.

Els set his record of 31 under at Kapalua in 2003 with an eight-shot win.

“I felt like it was short three-week break and continue what we were doing last year,” said Spieth, 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.”

Reed, the defending champion at Kapalua, got within three shots with a birdie on the par-5 ninth. Spieth answered with a two-putt birdie in the group behind him, and then rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 10th and was on his way.

He had talked about setting 30 under as his goal because it such gorgeous conditions, he might need it to hold off anyone making a big run.

Turns out he didn’t need it.

Reed stalled on the back nine, ended his bogey-free week on the 15th hole and closed with a 69. Brooks Koepka, playing with Spieth in the final group, had a wild start to his round but never got closer than the five-shot deficit he faced at the start. Koepka closed with a 71 and tied for third with Brandt Snedeker (67).

Spieth won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour, joining Tiger Woods as the only players to get that many at age 22 since complete records began in 1970.

That requires a little context.

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 in golf can only mean great play, and no one is playing better.

“Nowhere near,” Spieth said on how his record stacks up with Woods. “I don’t think there’s any reason to compare. It’s awfully early. We’re excited about where we’re at to start our career. What Tiger has done, I can’t imagine ever being done. But it’s nice to be in that company. It’s fantastic being out here with what we’re trying to do, and doing it well.”

It was the fifth time in the last 13 months that Spieth had at least a two-shot lead going into the final round, and he was never seriously challenged. That’s not to suggest it felt like a breeze, especially early. His approach shot on No. 1 somehow ended up just out of a steep bunker on the very edge of sand, some 50 yards to the hole. He pitched it onto the green and let the grain take it to 4 feet for a save, and then he holed a 35-foot birdie putt on the next hole.

But he missed a 3 1/2-foot birdie putt on No. 3, and then three-putted the par-5 fifth for a par. And after a simple up-and-down for birdie at No. 6, he made his second bogey of the week on the par-3 eighth hole. Reed made birdie on the ninth ahead of him, cutting the lead to three shots.

That was as close as it got.

Reed, trying to join Stuart Appleby and Geoff Ogilvy as the only repeat winners at Kapalua, opened with three birdies in five holes and went out in 32. Whatever chance he had ended when he started the back nine with five straight pars. A poor drive on the par-5 15th led to his only bogey of the week.

“I knew I had to make birdies early to put pressure on him,” Reed said. “I got it to within three. The next time I saw a board it was back to five. He’s not going to shoot over par, especially the way he’s playing now.”

The tournament was never in doubt, and for one tournament at least, Spieth backed up his comment that 2016 isn’t an encore because that would mean the show was over.

The next questions is how good he can get.

After a week at home in Dallas, he heads to Middle East for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Singapore Open before resuming his PGA Tour schedule at Pebble Beach and Riviera.

Much like Woods in 2000, and even David Duval in 1999, he sent an early message by winning Kapalua that he wasn’t interested in this wave to end.

JOHANNESBURG – Brandon Stone won the South African Open on Sunday for his maiden European Tour title, becoming the youngest player to win the event since it joined the tour schedule in 1997.

The 22-year-old South African finished with a roller-coaster round of 71 that had seven birdies and also six bogeys, but it was still enough for a two-shot win over fellow home player Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Stone finished 14 under par at Glendower Golf Club in a tournament that was interrupted by stormy weather, forcing the first three rounds to be suspended and carried over to the following day.

Stone was in tears after completing victory at golf’s second oldest national open after the British Open. He held a five-shot lead at one point but had to fight in the end to hold off Bezuidenhout’s late charge.

Bezuidenhout finished with a superb 5-under 67 to nearly steal victory at the end.

Englishman Daniel Brooks, who was tied for the lead with Stone when the third round was suspended on Saturday, closed with a 72 to finish 11 under and three shots behind Stone in third. Brooks held a two-shot lead with nine holes to play, but couldn’t keep that momentum.

Stone only claimed his first professional victory late last year on the South African Sunshine Tour.

He appeared to have blown his chances at Glendower with a run of three straight bogeys and four dropped shots in five holes approaching the turn on Sunday. He shrugged that off to collect four birdies in five holes from No. 12 and finished par-par to win.

The tears began to flow for Stone on the green at No. 18 when he put his third shot close, pretty much guaranteeing him victory. He rolled in the par putt and had to wait for the last few players to come home. No one had a realistic chance of catching him.

Retief Goosen finished in a four-way tie for fourth on 9 under alongside Branden Grace, Justin Walters and Keith Horne.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Sharp as ever to start the new year, Jordan Spieth capped off another strong performance with a 10-foot eagle on Saturday for an 8-under 65, giving him a five-shot lead over Brooks Koepka going into the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Only one other player, defending champion Patrick Reed, was within eight shots of Spieth.

A hardy Kona wind didn’t slow anyone down who was playing well. Spieth started the day with a four-shot lead and ran off four straight birdies.

Koepka, in only his second tournament in nearly three months and his first since switching to Nike, had six straight birdies on the front nine. That streak ended when he made par on the downwind, par-5 ninth hole. And with a par on the closing hole, he still had a career-best 63.

At one point, Koepka pulled within one-shot of the lead.

Spieth talked Friday about learning to be patient because he would have more holes to play from the final group. Along with taking care of the holes where birdies are likely, he picked up a bonus with a 50-foot birdie putt up the slope and with the grain on the 12th hole.

And then, his short game took over.

From just short of the 14th green, he chipped into the grain to 2 feet for birdie. His second shot into the par-5 15th went just long, leaving him in a tough spot with a back pin. It looked as if the best play was a chip that bounced onto the green and rode the grain and slope. Instead, Spieth opened a lob wedge and threw it up in the air with a flop shot that settled 3 feet away.

He saved par on the 16th with another tough chip, and closed out his round with a second shot that had the gallery thinking it might go in.

The way this week has been going, who could blame them?

Spieth was at 24-under 195, one shot shy of the 54-hole record at Kapalua that Ernie Els set in 2003 on his way to an eight-shot victory. Els is the only player in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30 under or better (he was 31 under).

Koepka had his best score on the PGA Tour and still shaved only two shots of his deficit, though he at least has one more day. Reed remains the only player at Kapalua this week without a bogey, though a 67 left him six shots behind.

“Jordan is definitely not letting up and we’re going to have to go out and get it,” Reed said.

Brandt Snedeker (65) and Fabian Gomez (70) were nine shots back.

Kevin Kisner, playing in the final group with Spieth, tried to keep pace but missed three birdie putts inside 6 feet. He had to settle for a 71.

Spieth has talked all week about wanting the new year to be a continuation of the old one, and that’s what it looks like so far. His only blemish came on the par-3 eighth hole when his tee shot hit the top of the bunker, rolled through the sand and stopped 6 inches away from the hazard line.

He hit a flop over the sand to 7 feet and missed the par putt.

JOHANNESBURG – Brandon Stone and Daniel Brooks share the lead at the European Tour’s South African Open after the third round was suspended because of approaching thunderstorms and the threat of lightning on Saturday.

Englishman Brooks was already one of the players who had to get up early to complete their second rounds because of similar stormy weather and a suspension on the second day in Johannesburg. He was 1 under through nine holes of his third round to be 10 under overall.

South Africa’s Stone was also 10 under, picking up four birdies in his opening nine, and five birdies in the 11 holes he managed to play on Saturday at Glendower Golf Club.

They have a two-shot lead over Keith Horne, who completed only nine holes of his third round.

Five-time champion Ernie Els missed the cut by a shot after finishing his second round earlier Saturday. The four-time major winner had three bogeys and just one birdie in that delayed second round for a 74 and to finish 3 over par.

Another South African major winner, Retief Goosen, was five shots off the lead after finishing 11 holes of his third round at Glendower.

Stormy weather has caused suspensions in play on all three days of the tournament. Players will return at 7:30 a.m. local time on Sunday to complete their third rounds.

KAPALUA, Hawaii – A new year, and everything is falling Jordan Spieth’s way.

Spieth chipped in for eagle, make a pair of tough par saves late and ended his round Friday with a 15-foot birdie putt into the grain that stopped on the lip and then dropped into the cup for a 9-under 64. It gave him a four-shot lead in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Two rounds into 2016, it already feels a lot like last year.

Spieth is making putts. Spieth is holing chips. Spieth is in the lead.

For all the talk about how he can match what he did last year – two majors, five victories – it might be just as tough to repeat what he has done the opening two rounds. Spieth was at 16-under 130, one short of the 36-hole record at Kapalua set by Ernie Els in 2003.

“Did I see 16 under? Probably not to start the season,” Spieth said.

Kevin Kisner, coming off a big year of his own with his first victory and four runner-up finishes, missed a couple of short birdie putts and still shot his way around the Plantation Course with ease for an 8-under 65 that earned him a spot in the final group with Spieth on Saturday.

“What’s Jordan at? I saw he was at 15,” Kisner said when he finished. “He’ll probably shoot another 15 (under), so I better get going tomorrow, the way he plays. We’ll just make a bunch of birdies and see what happens.”

Birdies have not been in short supply this week with only a moderate breeze and a blazing sun that is making Kapalua pick up some speed. Fabian Gomez of Argentina, one of 14 players making his debut this week, made seven birdies in his round of 66. He joined Kisner and Patrick Reed (69) in the group four shots behind.

Reed didn’t make nearly enough birdies to keep pace. He fell out of the lead for the first time when Spieth made an 18-foot birdie on No. 8, and then Spieth took over with a chip from 35 feet behind the pin that broke sharply into the pin and disappeared.

But it was the back nine where Spieth built his lead.

Even this early in the year, he felt good enough with his driver to be aggressive on the 13th, and it led to a short wedge he hit to 3 feet. He driver again on the 14th, narrowly clearly a bunker and leaving a pitch just short of the green to 3 feet. And then from a hanging lie on the 15th, he drilled a 3-wood just off the back of the green and rolled the putt down to just over 4 feet for a third straight birdie.

Equally important, however, were the pars.

His worst swing of the week with a 52-degree wedge was fat and smothered, and it left him a long, tough putt across the green to 6 feet. He made that for par, and holed a 7-footer for par on the 17th. The final putt was a bonus.

“I go from leading by one to leading by four,” he said. “And that’s huge.”

Kisner only needed five holes to tie for the lead, making two birdies and a 30-foot eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. He started the back nine with three straight birdies, and the only glitch was failing to birdie the two par 5s on the back nine.

“First tournament of the year, kind of rusty, haven’t played in a while,” Kisner said. “Seeing where my game is, I’m looking forward to having a chance on the weekend.”

Danny Lee recovered from a bogey-bogey start to shoot 68 and was five shots behind. Rickie Fowler and Steven Bowditch each had 67 and were another shot back.

Jason Day, the No. 2 player in the world competing for the first time in three months, had a 73 and already was 12 shots behind. He would appear to have little chance of getting to No. 1 this week.

Richmond Hill, Ont. — A new year may be just beginning, but it’s not too early to look forward to the upcoming Olympic Games. The Games begin in August, but BMW Group Canada took advantage of the kick-off to 2016 as a means to introduce Team BMW, a group of six high-performance Canadian athletes aiming to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.  Support for Team BMW athletes will be on various levels in an extension of the company’s role as National Partner and Official Vehicle of the Canadian Olympic Team.

Passionate about performance and driven to succeed, Team BMW brings the BMW spirit to life.  This group of athletes represents the essence of the BMW Group in human form: efficient performance, innovation, power and grace.  BMW Group Canada is proud to support each of these athletes on their road to success.

BMW Group Canada announced its partnership with the Canadian Olympic Team in January of 2013. As National Partner and Official Vehicle of the Canadian Olympic Team, the company and its retailers have since provided athlete support and generated funds that go towards specialized programs, sports medicine, coaching and travel, among other items. This Olympic year will see those efforts continue, with Team BMW being only the beginning.

Team BMW consists of the following athletes:

• Roseline Filion, 10m Synchronized Diving: Roseline and diving partner Meaghan Benfeito have been one of the best 10m teams in the world since 2005. Reaching Rio would be Roseline’s third Olympic Games. She currently holds gold, bronze and silver medals from various competitions including the Olympic Games, the Pan Am Games, and World Championships.
• Meaghan Benfeito, 10m Synchronized Diving: Diving partner of Roseline Filion, Meaghan began diving at age seven.  In her second Olympic Games at London 2012, the pair won bronze. She has won multiple medals at other multi-sport games, including the 2011 Pan Am Games where she won silver with Filion and bronze individually. In 2014, she was a double Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 10m and 10m synchro events.
• Mark de Jonge, 200m Sprint Kayak: Mark has come a long way since learning to “just stay upright” in a kayak.  Earning a bronze medal at his Olympic debut in London 2012, Mark has proven himself to be a resilient and focused athlete. In 2015, he successfully defended his world championship gold medal, making him the first man to win back-to-back titles since 2003.
• Derek Drouin, High Jump: At his first Olympic Games in London 2012, Derek was part of a three-way tie for bronze after clearing 2.29m. It was Canada’s first Olympic high jump medal since 1976. In 2013, he won bronze at the 2013 IAAF World Championships, and in 2014, he became one of 12 men in history to jump the height of 2.40m, breaking his own Canadian record. This past summer, he won gold at the Pan Am Games, followed by another gold at the World Track and Field Championships.
• Ryan Cochrane, 400m and 1,500m Freestyle Swimming: Ryan is one of Canada’s most-decorated swimmers ever.  His six medals at the FINA World Championships are the most ever earned by a Canadian swimmer. He is also just the second person to reach the podium in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events at three straight Worlds, winning a total of four silver and two bronze. His Olympic history includes a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and a silver medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012.
• Brooke Henderson, Golf: Brooke Henderson made history in September, 2014 when she became the first Canadian to be ranked number one in the Women’s World Amateur Rankings. With more than 50 amateur victories to her credit, she turned pro in December, 2014.  She then earned her first pro win at the 2015 Four Winds Invitational in June, becoming the third-youngest winner in Symetra Tour history. In December, 2015, she was named the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year, and is on track to represent Canada as golf makes it return to the Olympic Games in Rio.

“I know I speak for our retailers and associates nationwide when I say how proud I am to help Canadian athletes drive towards their Olympic dreams,” said Kevin Marcotte, Marketing Director, BMW Canada.  “The BMW Group and the Olympic Movement share many common values, which makes our partnership resonate with every one of us. Supporting the Canadian Olympic Team enables us to give back to our community in a unique and fulfilling way by supporting athletes from coast to coast. It is an honour and a pleasure to assist these six athletes in their quest for the podium.”

“BMW has been an outstanding partner of the Canadian Olympic Team and we are honoured to continue our partnership with them,” said Derek Kent, Chief Marketing Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee. “Both of our organizations strive for high-performance and we look forward to seeing Ryan, Meaghan, Roseline, Mark, Derek and Brooke, with BMW’s support, bring this shared value to life on the road to Rio.”

“I’ve appreciated BMW products for quite some time,” said Olympic bronze medallist Mark de Jonge.  “As an engineer, I really appreciate the innovation built into them.  Having BMW as a partner has inspired me to look at my paddle differently and helped me to think differently about how I approach my sport.”

“I’m so happy to have a partner like BMW,” said Roseline Filion, Olympic bronze medallist.  “Sponsorships help fuel the entire athlete.  From food to training to transportation, the support is very much appreciated.  My BMW X3 helps me get to all of my appointments and training and home to visit my parents.  It helps me live the slightly hectic life of an athlete in training a bit more easily.”

BMW Group Canada is proud to partner of the Canadian Olympic Team and will showcase Team BMW on bmw.ca. As National Partner and Official Vehicle of the Canadian Olympic Team, BMW’s partnership will provide athlete support and generate fundraising opportunities for the team.

UXBRIDGE — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Moss to fill the newly created role of High Performance Director. Moss joins the GAO’s Sport Department after High Performance Manager Mary Ann Hayward’s retirement announcement and former Director Mike Kelly’s move to the role of Executive Director.

“I am thrilled to be joining the GAO at this important time for golf,” said Moss. “With the upcoming Olympic Games, and the great pool of talent we have in Ontario, there is a fantastic opportunity to grow the participation in our sport, and see more and more golfers come through our clubs, and through our high performance pathways.”

Moss brings 25 years of experience to the GAO as a coach, provincial and national sport administrator, consultant and most recently, Lead of High Performance Athlete Development at the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO). At the CSIO, Moss was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of National and Provincial high performance programs with some of Canada’s top Olympic sports, such as Rowing, Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, and Figure Skating.

Having started out as a swimmer, golfer and sailor in Kingston, Moss pursued a coaching passion over a 15-year career. Following retirement from coaching, he moved to sport administration as Program Director at Swim BC, and Director of Domestic Operations with Swimming Canada. In both roles, Andrew oversaw the development and implementation of athlete, coaching, and club development programs, along with implementation of online performance tracking systems.

“We received an incredible amount of interest for this new position and following a very thorough process, we are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our team,” said Kelly.  “His background in sport, passion for golf and experience at the renowned Canadian Sport Institute Ontario will be a massive benefit to Ontario athletes, PGA of Canada coaches and clubs.”

“I appreciate the confidence Mike Kelly has shown in me, and I am confident that the unique experience I bring will help build on the great work done by Mary Ann Hayward and the GAO team over the past six and a half years,” added Moss. “I’m excited to help shape a great future for our high performance programs, and the other exciting initiatives underway at the GAO, Golf Canada and the Government of Ontario.”

Moss will begin the new role February 1, 2016.

Although the former Golf Canada National Amatuer and Young Pro Squad member Jennifer Kirby struggled in the 2015 season, on a mixture of the Symetra and LPGA Tours, the 24-year-old is staying positive.

Kirby has not yet found success at the LPGA level, but the can’t-miss-kid couldn’t be missed for a reason. After winning both the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 2009, Kirby went on to a tremendous career at the University of Alabama – including being part of the National Championship-winning team in 2012.

Kirby then went on to win in her first start as a professional, at a Canadian Women’s Tour event in Quebec.

Here, Kirby dishes on her collegiate experience (“Roll tide!”), her off – course passions, and what it means to be supported by Canadian fans.

On winning the NCAA National Championship:

The team goal is always to win the national championship and every year we just kept building towards it. My sophomore year we were the closest I ever thought we’d be, it was just nice to feel that hard work come into success. There are a lot of great players that’ll go through their college careers and not experience something like that.

On Alabama’s crazy football fans:

Football season makes it (Alabama) a whole other place to be when all the people come in to watch the games. Everyone gets so in to it there, it’s just like a way of life.

On Alabama’s (really) crazy football fans:

102,000 people fit in the stadium. But it feels like so much more. People come in to town and don’t even go to the game. The city just transforms.

On being a part of the Golf Canada experience:

As an amateur they gave me every opportunity I could ask for. I travelled all around the world representing my country. They gave me all the tools to succeed and all the opportunities to play against good competitors. Every day I’m very thankful to have gone through that program.

On playing LPGA events in Canada as a Canadian:

Canadians just love golf. You can tell the Canadian events are the best run on Tour. Everyone loves going there and the crowds are so knowledgeable and so involved. They’re very excited about everyone being there. For me, as a Canadian, it’s just amazing to come home.

On her famous Canadian coach:

I’m still working with Sean (Foley). We’ve been working together for over 10 years. It’s very hard because we both have very different schedules, but I still try to see him whenever I get the chance to get together.

On some off-course interests: 

I like working out, I like to shop and travel. Anything relaxing. We’re always on the go, being at home and being with family and friends is a lot more valuable than doing other things.

On the LPGA’s new look:

I think it’s really cool that a lot of magazines and shows have been highlighting women on tour and showing there’s more to them than just being a golfer. I think a lot of the girls do a good job on Instagram showing that as well – you see girls in yoga magazines, fitness magazines, and more. It’s good for the fans to know a little more about the people on our Tour.

On getting on the bag for her boyfriend (Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada member Tommy Cocha):

Whenever I go to see him – obviously our schedules are very difficult, but when I see him at a tournament week, he enjoys having me on the bag and obviously it’s a good financial help for both of us. He’s helped me before with that too. I really enjoy it, I learn a lot about how he plays. It’s good to have someone you trust on the bag and someone who knows you pretty well.

TORONTO – In a year in which Brooke Henderson stole the show in Canadian golf, she can add two more honours to her trophy case.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Henderson, David Hearn, Corey Conners, and Maddie Szeryk are the 2015 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Henderson’s spectacular first season as a professional was also named the Canadian Golf Story of the Year.

“GJAC is thrilled to honour these wonderful golfers in 2015,” said Grant Fraser, GJAC President. “The accomplishments of the winners – and each of the nominees – show that Canadian golf is in very good hands.”

Henderson became the first Canadian to win on the LPGA Tour since Lorie Kane in 2001 after capturing the Cambia Portland Classic by eight shots. At 17 years, 11 months, and 6 days old, she was the third-youngest champion in LPGA Tour history and was granted LPGA Tour membership in August. The native of Smiths Falls, Ontario also defended her title at the 2015 PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and notched one victory (with five top-10’s in five events played) on the Symetra Tour. Henderson ended the year 17th on the Rolex Rankings – the official world ranking of female professional golfers.

Her choice as Female Professional of the Year was a unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, David Hearn – who’s run at the RBC Canadian Open was another nominee for Canadian Golf Story of the Year – was named Male Professional of the Year. Hearn is Canada’s highest-ranked male golfer, and nearly won twice on the PGA Tour in 2015. He held the 54-hole lead at the Canadian Open, and then lost in a playoff at The Greenbrier Classic. The 36-year-old finished 55th in the FedEx Cup standings and earned $1.8 million – his highest total ever as a professional.

Corey Conners was named the Male Amateur of the Year for the third year in a row in a tight vote with Blair Hamilton and Garrett Rank. After finishing as runner-up at the U.S. Amateur in 2014, Conners participated in The Masters where he played the first two rounds with Mike Weir. The 23-year-old finished as low amateur before announcing he would turn professional. He was ranked 21st on the Official World Amateur Golf Ranking prior to turning pro.

Maddie Szeryk was named Female Amateur of the Year after finishing first on Golf Canada’s National Women’s Order of Merit. The Golf Canada national team member is currently ranked no.38 (first in Canada) on the Official World Amateur Golf Ranking. The 19-year-old is set to graduate from Texas A&M in 2018, and in her first collegiate season, she was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year.

Brian MacLeod, one of the world’s best blind golfers, has passed away at age 56 after succumbing to cancer.

The native of Truro, N.S., and close friend Gerry Nelson founded Blind Golf Canada. MacLeod traveled the country and the world, claiming championships wherever he went.

Shane Sutherland spoke with the Truro Daily News and reflected fondly on his friend.

Read the story here.