Jordan Spieth

[Don Wassall]

Jordan Spieth had his magic back and then some today, shooting a 30 on the back nine to win at the venerable Colonial course in Fort Worth. The latest official corporate name for the event is the Dean & DeLuca Invitational at Colonial. Spieth made one long-range putt after another, mixed with great iron shots and an amazing chip-in on 17.

This is a big win for Jordan. It's his first in his native Texas, and his 8th overall. He surpassed Tiger Woods, who won 7 PGA events before the age of 23; Jordan doesn't turn 23 until late July. It goes a long way toward putting his failure at The Masters in the rearview mirror. And Rabbi Lerner and friends have been a little too eager of late to anoint the "exotic" Jason Day as a player much better than Spieth and Rory McIlroy. Day has been on a tear, but it's still a "big three" and this win by Jordan puts it back in the proper perspective.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Jordan Spieth wins his second Australian Open in 3 years! After he won the 2014 open, he went on a tear we hadn't seen by someone so young in like 75 years. Let's hope for another great season to come for Spieth!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Jordan Spieth goes wire to wire to win The Travelers Championship! The 10th win of his career. Making him the second youngest player, 23 years and 10 months, to win 10 tournaments. Woods was 23 years 6 months. Nicklaus was 24 years old when he won his 10th.

 

[icsept]

He couldn't hit a putt all day. So, the chip-in was necessary. He's proven to be a great front runner, like Woods. 6 of his 10 wins came with a 36 hole lead. The only 36 hole lead he blew was the 2016 Masters, finished T-2.

 

[Don Wassall]

Ten career wins isn't all that common these days on the Tour. Only around a dozen active players have reached that mark. To accomplish it at the age of 23 is tremendous.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Hard to believe it's been almost four years since anyone has posted on Jordan Spieth's page.
I just saw this today. Spieth has revealed a hand injury in early 2018 that contributed to his downfall. He suffered a chipped bone in in his left hand causing his weak grip to become even weaker. When your swing goes, checking your grip is one of the first things to look at. I know when I start spraying the ball to the right, I look to strengthen my grip.
He also could not bow his wrist either.
WGC-Dell Technologies Match: Jordan Spieth reveals hand injury that played part in form slump | Golf News | Sky Sports
He's finished in the top 15 in his last four events. Let's hope he continues to progress.

 

[icsept]

The alleged injury doesn’t explain why his putting went downhill and he started missing a lot of short putts.

 

[Don Wassall]

There's so many athletes that come up with well after-the-fact injury claims anymore that it's easy to doubt these types of stories now. Not saying Jordan is making it up, but I don't unquestioningly accept them at all at face value now knowing that at least some of them are self-serving tall tales. Why wait three years to mention a hand injury?

 

[Carolina Speed]

The alleged injury doesn’t explain why his putting went downhill and he started missing a lot of short putts.

The numbers say something different.
Putting Performance 2015 vs 2019
Strokes Gained putting 2015 +0.57
Strokes Gained putting 2019 +0.74

Average distant made 2015 78'9
Average distant made 2019 83'10

4-8 feet 2015 68.3%
4-8 feet 2019 68.7%

10-15 feet 2015 30.6%
10-15 feet 2019 39.3%

Outside 25 feet 2015 7.3%
Outside 25 feet 2019 10.9%

In 2015 Spieth was ranked 15th in strokes gained off the tee and 11th on approach to the green.
From 2017 to 2019 he dropped from 44th to 183rd off the tee.
...and from 2nd in 2017 to 147th in 2019 shots gained on the approach.

 

[icsept]

The numbers say something different.
Putting Performance 2015 vs 2019
Strokes Gained putting 2015 +0.57
Strokes Gained putting 2019 +0.74

Average distant made 2015 78'9
Average distant made 2019 83'10

4-8 feet 2015 68.3%
4-8 feet 2019 68.7%

10-15 feet 2015 30.6%
10-15 feet 2019 39.3%

Outside 25 feet 2015 7.3%
Outside 25 feet 2019 10.9%

In 2015 Spieth was ranked 15th in strokes gained off the tee and 11th on approach to the green.
From 2017 to 2019 he dropped from 44th to 183rd off the tee.
...and from 2nd in 2017 to 147th in 2019 shots gained on the approach.

Thanks for the stats. My opinion was purely anecdotal. As a Spieth fan, it seemed like he started missing some gimmes, and I would always expect the worst. It’s been so long since he’s won.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Thanks for the stats. My opinion was purely anecdotal. As a Spieth fan, it seemed like he started missing some gimmes, and I would always expect the worst. It’s been so long since he’s won.

You're welcome. I didn't know for sure his putting hadn't diminished either. I remember how much The Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee talked about how Jordan was so bad off the tee, and that scrambling and putting had actually saved him from making worse scores. He could've been like other golfers who have won tournaments and been in the top 10-15 golfers in the world only to fade. Hunter Mahan comes to mind as well as Todd Hamilton and Ian Baker-Finch going back a ways. More recently now Rickie Fowler seems to have lost it. Fowler is currently ranked 90th and in danger of falling out of the top 100!
After falling to 90th, Spieth has made it back to 54th. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but it surprises how he kept this injury from the public. I'm a fan of Spieth as well. He's still my favorite of this era. I'm hoping he continues to improve all the way back to the top 10 and even number one. He's like Mike Trout in Baseball. A once in a generation talent.
Spieth is playing in the World Match Play beginning today. His first opponent is Matthew Fitzpatrick. A tough opening draw. I'll be watching.