Jordan Spieth: His “World Tour” Behind Him, Focus on Augusta
By Ryan Andrade
Jordan Spieth’s run-up to Augusta will keep him fresh.
Jordan Spieth has been a very busy man the last 4 months. After putting an exclamation point on an incredible 2015 season by winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup, Spieth didn’t rest. Instead, he went on a tour around the world to show that golf truly is a global game.
Spieth’s Winter of Globetrotting
His first stop was South Korea and the President’s Cup, to help out his fellow American’s take down the International team. Jordan Spieth appeared worn out, but he was able to help the U.S. team to a 15.5-14.5 victory.
He was able to take a month off to rest, before heading out to Shanghai, China for the WGC-HSBC Champions event. Spieth would have his worst finish of his world tour at this event, but still a very respectable T-7 on a score that included a third round 63.
He would add back-to-back top fives a few weeks later at the Australian Open and then the Hero World Challenge. Jordan Spieth had won both events in 2015. Those victories fueled the confidence and momentum he needed to dominate the 2015 season.
Then came the calendar change from 2015 to 2016. Spieth faced question’s all week going into the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua about if he could better his season from last year. Well . . . perhaps.
He got off to a great start, blowing away the winner’s only field by a whopping 8 shots. You just don’t see margins of victory like that in a field that stout. It more than likely will be the biggest margin of victory on the PGA Tour.
It was only one week off before Jordan Spieth began circumnavigating the globe to Abu Dhabi. It was during this event that he admitted to being physically and mentally exhausted. Despite his fatigue, he was still able to muster up another top five finish.
The last leg of the world tour brought a tired Spieth to Singapore. He didn’t have his best stuff again, but he battled throughout tournament to give himself a shot for the win. It just wasn’t quite enough. He finished one shot back and in solo 2nd.
Jordan Spieth bounced Texas to South Korea to China to Australia to the Bahamas to Maui to Abu Dhabi and to Singapore during the winter. I don’t think any of us were racking up more miles than Spieth through the air.
Spieth’s Spring 2016 Tournament Schedule
So what does all this travel mean for Spieth’s 2016 outlook? Let’s take a look at his early spring tournament schedule as he makes his run towards Augusta.
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- February 11-14: AT&T Pebble Peach Pro-Am
- February 18-21: Northern Trust Open
- March 3-6: WGC-Cadillac Championship
- March 10-13: Valspar Championship
- March 23-27: WGC-Dell Match Play Championship
- March 31-April 3: Shell Houston Open
- April 7-10: Master’s Tournament
As you can see, Jordan Spieth hasn’t exactly elected to take it easy after his world tour. However, I think there is a huge difference between playing multiple events internationally and playing multiple events in the continental U.S.
The obvious difference being the amount of time zones you have to fly over. Thus the adjustment period to a new place will be less. Flying from Abu Dhabi to Singapore and getting adjusted to the time change, while also fulfilling all the media responsibilities is challenging. Let alone playing in the actual tournament. Flying within the continental U.S. just doesn’t take as much out of you as flying internationally. There’s more time and energy to make a proper gameplan for the next venue.
I think we need to be realistic. Jordan Spieth is 22-years old. He has a week to rest up, before heading out to Monterey Bay for the Pro-Am tournament. And after watching the Waste Management Phoenix Open this weekend, he will probably be itching to get out there and show the boys on the PGA Tour who is boss.
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In my opinion, playing two weeks then taking one week off before getting back into action the following week is the best way to keep your game sharp. Taking more than a week off sometimes can create a bit of rust on Thursday, which just might be the difference in you winning or coming up a few shots short in a tournament. The full shots typically don’t get affected too much, but the shots around the green can see some inconsistencies.
The tour players like to call this “competitive rust” and with the schedule Spieth has there is very little time for that competitive rust before Augusta.
Of the six tournaments Spieth will play before the Master’s, you would have to think he would win at least one of them. And with the way Jordan Spieth has played of late, he likely will have a shot on Sunday in just about all of them. What better way to prepare for the most pressure packed event of the year than getting into contention multiple times?
If there was any part of that schedule to worry about, it would be playing a major the third event in a row. That will be the case for many of the top players as the match play is a World Golf Championship event and the Shell Houston Open intentionally try to set up the course just like Augusta National. It’s not unfamiliar territory for Spieth, however. Last year he finished 2nd in both the Valero Texas Open and Shell Houston Open in the two weeks before the Master’s. And as we all know, he went on to win wire-to-wire at the Master’s.
Look for Some Late Season Fatigue
If we are to see any major signs of fatigue this year from Spieth, it is unlikely to show up until around the Open Championship. The middle to end of the year is chalked full of huge events: three majors within eight weeks, not to mention the Olympic Games two weeks after the PGA Championship. Oh, then don’t forget about the FedEx Cup playoffs and then right after the Tour Championship is the Ryder Cup! I can guarantee you that Jordan Spieth isn’t going to be the only one feeling tired after this stretch. The “Big 4” (Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Rickie Fowler) are all going to be going through the same pressures and fatigue. Of all of the events they will play in down stretch, I don’t think any will be as unique as the Olympic’s.
Next: Top 10 Golfers Under 25 on the PGA TOUR
Jordan Spieth will show us exactly how great of an athlete he is as he makes his way towards Augusta, and beyond . . .