Jordan Spieth has been in the midst of a stunning slump, posting just one (1) top-10 finish, following last year’s T3 at the Masters Tournament – stretching 11 months, over two seasons, and 21 starts, including his most recent 14.
So when he opened with two rounds of 68 at the Valero Texas Open, and was sitting pretty at T2, many golf fans – especially fellow Texans – were hoping for two more days of good golf and a return to the winner’s circle, or at the very least, a top-5 finish to gain some confidence heading into Augusta.
Well, that idea came to a screeching halt early on Saturday when the three-time major winner produced a 6-over par 42 on the front, which included a pair of bogeys and two doubles.
But with seemingly nothing to lose, Spieth played his final nine holes fearlessly, and flawlessly, and it may have been his best stretch of golf in a long time.
After a couple of pars on Nos. 10 and 11 to settle down, he absolutely lit up the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, finishing his final seven holes with five birdies, including a hat trick to close out the day.
Afterwards, Spieth felt it was his best stretch of golf in a “couple of years.”
“Yeah, just a really rough start. I mean, just a tough nine holes,” said Spieth, who had seven one-putts on the back-nine.
“Other than that, on the back-nine today was by far the best that I’ve played – the most control I’ve had of the ball and the best I’ve felt putting the ball – in a couple years.
“So today was progress. I actually look as today as progress. I needed the start today to recognize that there was things that still needed adjustment and I made those adjustments mid round and was able to shoot 5 under from what was a 6 over front nine. That shows me that with a few reps, I’m really close to being right where I want to be.”
Spieth was T16 on 7-under par, eight shots back of 54-leader Si Woo Kim.
