Jordan Spieth fast learner using tips from fellow-Texan Ben Crenshaw

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Farewell, Gentle Ben.

Welcome, Jordan Spieth.

Ben Crenshaw closed out his Masters career Friday with two rounds he would prefer to forget, but a lifetime of memories from his 44 appearances at Augusta National. While the two-time Masters winner from Texas was preparing to play his last rounds, Spieth – a fellow Lone Star state native – tried to soak up everything one of his mentors could tell him about the course.

Spieth is showing he’s a fast learner.

On the day of Crenshaw’s last round, Spieth set the Masters record with a 130 total through the first 36 holes. That might earn him his first green jacket in just his second tournament at Augusta National.

“It’s very special, and it’s really kind of a shame and sad for the tournament to be losing him, (but) legends have to go at some point,” Spieth said.

Crenshaw was quick to return the praise.

“Last year was his first time, and he played it like he’d been here forever,” Crenshaw said. “And I’m amazed at what he’s doing now.”

As Crenshaw reached the 18th green, he was met and then wrapped up in a hug by Carl Jackson, his longtime Augusta caddie. The emotions almost overpowered both men.

“He said ‘I love you,’ ” Jackson recalled, “and I said, ‘I love you.’ ”

Jackson wasn’t in good enough health to carry Crenshaw’s bag for 36 holes, so he turned the duties over to his younger brother Bud, also a longtime Augusta National caddie. But Carl donned the white coveralls, with Crenshaw’s name on the back, for the occasion. They basked in the applause, even though Crenshaw’s score for the two rounds – a 32-over total of 176 – placed him last in the field.

“I apologized to him for my play,” Crenshaw said. “It was tremendous seeing Carl. It wouldn’t have been anywhere near the same without him.”

But while Crenshaw’s career is ending, Spieth’s is just taking off.

The youngster, who doesn’t turn 22 until July, played the back nine Wednesday with the 63-year-old Crenshaw, absorbing as much knowledge as possible, especially concerning the tricky greens.

“It’s been very helpful,” Spieth said, even if he was reluctant to go into much detail.

Crenshaw certainly knows the course intimately, as his wins in 1984 and 1995 proved. “He’s a wonderful kid, way mature beyond his years,” Crenshaw said. But he also cautioned about looking too far ahead; Spieth led heading into the final round here last year, but made three bogeys on the front nine and finished runner-up to Bubba Watson.