As the golf world salivates over Tiger Woods’ play at The Memorial I am left wondering what has happened to Jordan Spieth.
The three time major winner was one three golfers entering the season with a chance to claim their career grand slam. Rory McIlroy missed his chance at The Masters and Phil Mickelson’s chances at the U.S. Open in two weeks are a long shot at best. Spieth’s recent play has him struggling to get in the mix and after a missed cut at the PLAYERS he hasn’t finished in the top twenty including two home games in his beloved hometown Dallas.
Spieth’s 2015 season captivated all of sport as he contended to win the single season Grand Slam. His good buddy and competitor Justin Thomas proclaimed him the “Golden Child” as it seemed he could do little wrong on his run to top of the world rankings.
While he never has been the longest off the tee or the sharpest of ball strikers Spieth made his mark and earned his wins with his putter. Long putts were his bread and butter as he sunk more long putts than anyone on tour and he rarely, very rarely would miss on the short putts.
Now, the tool that earned him fame and fortune is dragging him down into the depths of mediocrity. Spieth currently ranks at 192nd on tour in Strokes Gained Putting. That’s about as bad as it gets. ‘Drive for show and putt for dough’ is a common refrain in this game. But Spieth’s putted is costing him plenty of dough and any chance at winning his next major at Shinnecock.
How poorly has his putting been? Well, he is currently better than only fourteen golfers on tour and even Adam Scott who has struggled since the anchoring ban is ranked higher than Spieth.
Consider this: in 2015 he finished ninth for the season in Strokes Gained Putting, in ’16 he was second and last season dropped to 42nd. The once magic wand he waved with such expertise has morphed into a sledge hammer as he pushes, pulls and muffs putt after putt and has him ranked 171st on tour in putts inside five feet. The Spieth of old (if I can say that, he’s only 24) never missed a five footer.
He’s frustrated as he can’t put his entire game together. He ranks eighth in both approaches and around the green and a respectable eighteenth in strokes gained off the tee. But the magic he had on the dance floor has vanished.
For all of his short but very productive career he has always relied on his putter to separate him from the mere mortals that play the tour. It is failing him now and the Golden Child no longer has the golden touch.
His next event is the U.S. Open and Shinnecock will be setup to “identify the greatest” golfer in the world. And that means putting those slick, undulating, windswept greens.
Spieth needs to get his mind right or he’ll have the weekend off to spend in the Hamptons.
Related Articles
