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SYDNEY -- Jordan Spieth believes his victory at the Australian Open on Sunday will do wonders for his career, just as it did when he won the tournament for the first time in 2014.Spieth sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat local hopes Cameron Smith and Ashley Hall at Royal Sydney.Former top-ranked Spieth forced the three-way playoff after sinking another clutch par putt on the 18th hole for a 3-under 69. He joined Smith (66) and Hall (66) at 12-under 276 after 72 holes.For Spieth, it was more than winning the tournament for a second time.The way we played the playoff, I think is going to do wonders for me, Spieth said. Ive been in a little bit of stall hitting shots when they mattered ... To hit those two shots in there, right where I wanted to hit them and then make the putt is really big going forward.The American added his name to an elite list of multiple winners at the Australian Open, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Greg Norman. Spieth improved his record to two wins and a runner-up finish in 2015 from three appearances at the Australian Open.Four players held the lead at various times on a dramatic final day, including Spieth, who.On the playoff hole -- the 18th -- Spieth put his approach to within 10 feet before Hall stepped up the pressure by knocking his to less than 8 feet.The 23-year-old Spieth then showed the composure that won him the Masters and U.S. Open titles last year when he calmly sank his putt while Hall pushed his birdie attempt right of the cup.Smith and Hall had some consolation as they secured starts at next years British Open at Royal Birkdale, as did two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley, who finished in a five-way tie for fourth at 10 under.I had a chance and thats all I can ask for, Hall said. I was pretty close to getting a job in a couple weeks, no idea what. ... Ive got a couple young kids, so I have to keep money flowing in.Im going to keep playing golf now, he added. Especially now, Ive got a pretty important tournament to play in July.Baddeley closed with a 1-under 71 and edged out Rod Pampling (70), Jason Scrivener (69), Ryan Fox (71) and third-round leader Geoff Ogilvy (73) for the spot at the British Open by virtue of his superior world ranking.Ogilvy started the day with a two-stroke lead before Spieth made two birdies on his first two holes to go in front.Ogilvy then chipped in for an eagle on the seventh hole to restore a two-shot margin and extended the lead to three shots before his round unraveled with a bogey on the par-4 15th and a double-bogey on the par-5 16th.The former U.S. Open champion finished with a 73.After Spieths 2014 victory, he went on in subsequent months to win the Masters and the U.S. Open, then missed the playoff at the British Open by a shot before finishing second to Jason Day at the PGA Championship.The best I ever hit it ... was actually the week after I played the Australian Open in 2014, Spieth said. I hit the ball well here, played a fantastic final round and went on and took that victory into my best ball-striking week Ive ever had as a golfer at Tigers event in Orlando. And I hope to do the same here. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Michael Cooper Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Nick-Van-Exel-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. James Worthy Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Michael Cooper Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. TROON, Scotland -- For a little over an hour on Tuesday afternoon here at Royal Troon, the player interview room became a repository for cautiously dancing around an issue and for stomping all over it. For tiptoeing through eggshells and for spitting straight fire. For remaining wholly image-conscious and lapsing into I-dont-give-a-you-know-what mode.With the 145th Open Championship set to begin in less than 48 hours, two of the games biggest stars sat down in front of the assembled media and were largely grilled not about the games oldest major championship, but about the upcoming Olympics -- an event neither will be playing.First up was Jordan Spieth, whod just withdrawn his name from Olympics consideration one day earlier. He answered an initial softball about returning to The Open, then punctuated his response by knowingly adding with a coy smile: I can already see, by far, thats going to be the easiest question I receive.It was. He was immediately asked about the burden of his decision, the pressure hed received to compete and why he came to that conclusion. Spieth explained that health concerns and other risk factors of playing in Rio de Janeiro ultimately led to his withdrawal.He then offered comments that would bring a proud tear to the eye of any PR flak.This was probably the hardest decision Ive ever had to make in my life. ... Im very passionate and very much a supporter of the Olympics and Olympic golf. ... I certainly hope they vote to keep it, because I believe it can be very beneficial for the game and I would love to be a part of benefiting the game with it.At one point, Spieth was even self-aware enough to acknowledge his hand movements, saying hed better sit still or theyd be misconstrued in photographs.It was clear that he understood this was an unpopular decision but fully intended to emerge from it with his public image still intact. He might have declined an invitation to the wedding, but he still wanted to send a nice present with the RSVP.If there was a controversial comment during the proceedings, even that was masked by Spieths insistence that this was a personal choice.Im making the decision of what I think is best for me, he said. I dont feel like I have to carry the torch -- see what I did there? -- for the sport or anyone else. This is bigger than that for me personally.Not long after Spieth finished, Rory McIlroy sat down in tthe same chair and offered a contradictory approach to answering similar questions.ddddddddddddIt was three weeks ago when McIlroy made his decision to eschew the Olympics, citing fears over the Zika virus. Up to that point, hed been in favor of golfs inclusion; after his announcement, he softened on the idea, though still contested that more top players would be competing if the tournament was being held elsewhere.On Tuesday, he didnt pull any punches.I dont feel like Ive let the game down at all, he said of his decision. I didnt get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and win major championships. All of a sudden, you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game and I get that. But at the same time, thats not the reason that I got into golf. I got into golf to win. I didnt get into golf to get other people into the game.This was a stark departure from just a few months earlier, when McIlroy specifically said of his Olympics inclusion, I feel like I have a responsibility to grow the game.Not only did he shift gears this time, he clearly wasnt worried about the public reaction.He continued: Ill probably watch the Olympics, but Im not sure golf will be one of the events I watch. ... [Ill] probably [watch] the events like track and field, swimming, diving -- the stuff that matters.The stuff that matters.Unlike Spieths delicate attempt to convey golfs relevance in the Olympics without his participation, McIlroy stuck a knife in the back of the event and twisted it. Hard.The ensuing public outrage and social media uproar over McIlroys comments in comparison to the general malaise surrounding those of Spieth are less because of what he said than how he said it. If Spieth launched a high fade that landed like a butterfly with sore feet. Then, McIlroy opted for a penetrating stinger that bounded relentlessly into the gallery.Theres no right or wrong answer here. Theres no specific blueprint for these players to speak their minds about the Olympics or any other issue.From tiptoeing through eggshells to spitting fire, two of the games biggest stars took two severely different approaches toward voicing their feelings. On this afternoon, the dichotomy between them was shocking. ' ' '