VIA ESPN: SOUTHPORT, England -- Spectators sneaked inside the ropes, scurrying along the 18th fairway at Royal Birkdale, shrieking as Jordan Spieth headed toward the final green to a loud ovation from the packed grandstands and the coronation everyone expected to take place.
But not like this.
How about a legendary comeback that will long be remembered as one of the game's epic feats?
The old links by the Irish Sea has seen plenty of drama during 10 Open Championships played in this English town, with Hall of Famers Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Mark O'Meara all prevailing here.
Jordan Spieth exclaimed "go get that" to his caddie, Michael Greller, after Spieth drained an eagle putt on the 15th hole Sunday. Spieth is expected to move up to No. 2 in the world rankings with his victory in The Open at Royal Birkdale. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
But it would be hard to top what Spieth pulled off Sunday, overcoming an unplayable lie penalty to make the most unlikely of bogeys, then playing the final five holes in 5 under par, including a near ace and an eagle that saw him celebrate by barking at his caddie to "go get that!''
"I happily went and got it,'' Michael Greller said.
The stretch of holes starting at the par-3 14th: 6-iron from 199 yards that nearly went in and yielded a kick-in birdie; eagle putt from 50 feet; birdie putt from 30 feet; birdie putt from 7 feet; and tap-in par for the victory.
Ridiculous.
Spieth is the Champion Golfer of the Year, the title bestowed upon the winner of The Open, and no potion he pours into the Claret Jug could ever be enough to summon whatever magic was necessary to pull it off.
"Great display of guts, determination and skill,'' tweeted Jack Nicklaus. And who could argue?
If ever there was a need for pictures on a scorecard, this was the day. Numbers do not come close to telling this story, a 1-under 69 looking so mundane in the record books.
It was Spieth's third major championship and gave him the third leg of the career Grand Slam just a few days shy of his 24th birthday, only the Golden Bear himself getting to that lofty position in the game at an earlier age.
But the journey was far from the expected stroll, a perilous trek that saw Spieth having to take a drop from an unplayable lie at the 13th hole, his nearest point between a couple of equipment vans that allowed him to take line-of-sight relief -- on the driving range.
You couldn't make it up. Spieth hit the blind shot from behind a sand dune, leaving a tricky pitch -- which he got up and down for a bogey that saved the tournament.
"The putt on 13 was just massive,'' said Spieth, who noted that Greller told him on the way to the 14th tee, "that's a momentum shift right there.''
Smart man, Greller.
Jordan Spieth raises the Claret Jug after the third of his major victories. He'll aim to complete the career Grand Slam starting Aug. 10 at Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship.