Is Jordan Spieth finally back?
No one truly knows. But he’s certainly getting closer.
The 27-year old Texan posted a second-straight round of 68 at the Genesis Invitational, and once again finds himself in the conversation, heading into the weekend.
The three-time major winner sits T4, just six off the pace of halftime leader Sam Burns.
Afterwards, a confident-sounding Spieth even boasted that his score didn’t truly reflect how well he’d played on Friday at Riviera.
“I feel like today it was almost the highest score I could have shot and it’s really a good sign for things to come,” said Spieth.
“Good things” have certainly been heading Spieth’s way… at least over the last few weeks.
Starting with an opening-round 67 in Phoenix, through today’s 68 at Riviera, Spieth has scored under-par in nine of his last 10 rounds, highlighted by six straight coming into this week.
During this three-event span, Spieth has entered each weekend firmly positioned inside the top 10, eventually leading to at least a share of the 54-hole pole position.
Surging Spieth
Last 10 Rounds
WM Phoenix Open: 67-67-61-72
Pebble Beach Pro-Am: 65-67-71-70
Genesis Invitational: 68-68
Thru 36 Holes
WM Phoenix Open (67-67) -8 (8th)
Pebble Beach (65-67) -12 (1st)
Genesis Inv (68-68) -6 (6th)
Thru 54 Holes
WM Phoenix Open (67-67-61) -18 (1st)
Pebble Beach (65-67-71) -13 (1st)
Genesis Inv (68-68-?)…
Jordan Spieth Flips the Script
Following a missed-cut in San Diego at the Farmers, Spieth had tumbled down to 92 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and was in danger of falling outside the top 100. Since, though, he’s rocketed up 30 spots – in just two weeks, and now sits at No. 62.
With a third consecutive top-4 finish, Spieth would move inside the top 50, and punch a ticket to next week’s World Golf Championship. A proposition that was the longest of long shots just three weeks ago now seems like a probability.
Even Spieth is somewhat surprised at how fast his prospects have flipped.
“Yeah, if I look back at Friday night of San Diego [after a missed cut], and you tell me I was going to share the 54 and have the 54-hole lead two weeks in a row and really just fight, finish strong to both weeks, I would have said you’re crazy, to be honest,” said Spieth, following his final round at Pebble Beach.
“I was not in a great head space following that missed cut there and just did some really phenomenal work from Sunday through Wednesday of last week that was probably the best period of a few days of work that I’ve put in in a long time.
“It just got me believing in what I was doing and progressing forward. That’s really what I continue to say is just progressing forward and if I put myself in the position of leading after 54 holes enough times, especially with how I know I’m going to fight even if it’s not going my way, I’ll end up on top one of these days.”
Capping off this three-week revival by “ending on top” at historic Riviera would be nothing less than a storybook script. But no matter what transpires this weekend, the former “Golden Child” coming out of nowhere, and contending for three straight weekends – in the doldrums of February, no less – has been something of a bonus prequel for golf fans everywhere.
Spieth tees off at 12:43 pm (EST) alongside Wyndham Clark (-6) and Alex Noren (-5).
