Jordan Spieth claims first win in nearly four years with victory at the Valero Texas Open

“I feel grateful. It kind of bounces off and on right now when it hits me that I’m back in the winner’s circle,” Spieth, who finished the week on 18-under, told reporters of his victory in Texas.

“It’s been a road that’s had a lot of tough days. I’ve had people in my corner that have always believed in me even when I’ve kind of believed less in myself.”

Spieth shared the lead with England’s Matt Wallace going into the fourth round, but it was fellow American Hoffman who came closest to challenging the 27-year-old by hitting three birdies between the 13th and 16th holes.

That moved Hoffman to within one shot of the lead, but Spieth’s birdie on the 17th and par on the 18th proved enough to wrap up the victory.

With the 12th title of his career, he joined Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas as the only players from the past 40 years to win at least 12 times before turning 28.

It was also Spieth’s first victory since marrying his wife, Annie Verret, who he embraced on the 18th green after sealing the win.

“I just feel a lot of gratitude to those who have helped me kind of get back here,” he said.

“My wife has been just a rock to me … It’s been progressing this way since maybe December, but before that there had been a lot of tough times. When you’re struggling at work, you try not to bring it home and that kind of stuff.”

Spieth will now be among the favorites to win the Green Jacket in Augusta, along with defending champion Dustin Johnson, 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and world No. 3 Jon Rahm, who is celebrating becoming a father for the first time after the birth of his son over the weekend.