2015 Valspar Championship: Round 3

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Spieth Squarely Among Masters Faves

Jordan Spieth's second PGA Tour victory came in the same spectacular fashion as the first: in a playoff. The 21-year-old, who finished runner-up in 2014 at the Masters to eventual champion Bubba Watson, appears to be peaking at just the right time on the golf calendar.

So what's in store for the young Texan? And might he derail Rory McIlroy's hopes at finishing off the career Grand Slam in a few weeks?

Our scribes dive into those topics and more in the latest edition of Four-Ball. Actually, let's make it a five-some this week.

1. Where does Jordan Spieth rank on your Masters short list of favorites?

"SportsCenter" anchor Matt Barrie: Prior to the Valspar Championship, Jordan Spieth hadn't played his best golf, but was still in my top 10 to win the Masters. With Sunday's win, you can firmly put Spieth in the top 7 to take home the green jacket. At 20 years old, Spieth had the lead last year in the final round at Augusta, only for a more experienced Bubba Watson to take control on the back nine. On Sunday it was clutch putting down the stretch that carried Spieth to a win. Clutch putting at Augusta is paramount. That he did it in the final round Sunday, regardless of the tournament, shows me he's ready once again to compete at the Masters.

"SportsCenter" anchor Jonathan Coachman: I thought last year that Jordan Spieth had the game to win. Now I know he does. He has three worldwide wins in the past four months. And Sunday was as much pressure as you can have. I would put Spieth right behind Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson. Spieth is becoming like Matt Kuchar, only with a little more killer instinct. The 21-year-old hates losing and has become a top-10 machine. He has become comfortable being one of the great players in the world and has officially begun his ascent to challenge McIlroy for the No. 1 player in the world.

ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins: Going into Bay Hill, I'd rank him second behind Dustin Johnson with Rory McIlroy now a close third. The short game Spieth has shown on tour would be impressive if I hadn't heard stories of the challenges he'd take from adults in his high school days back in Texas. The kid has a short game somewhere between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig: He's certainly among those you would think have a great chance to win, and his victory Sunday at the Valspar Championship gives him an added boost. Spieth had been pressing to get that second PGA Tour win and now he has it, giving him four worldwide victories as a pro. And don't forget he was in the hunt until the back nine on Sunday at Augusta a year ago.

"SportsCenter" coordinating producer John Ziomek: After the way he handled the pressure Sunday, making one clutch par putt after another and then winning with a birdie in the playoff, Spieth has to be right there among the favorites. Undoubtedly the pressure on a Sunday at the Masters is greater than what Spieth faced at Palm Harbor, but let's remember he's been there, done that already. He led the Masters through three rounds last year, and after a respectable even-par 72 on Sunday, only Bubba Watson beat him.