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Jordan Spieth preparing for a run at the Masters – and Tiger Woods

By Kathlene Bissell

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 04: Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club De Golf Chapultepec on March 4, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MARCH 04: Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club De Golf Chapultepec on March 4, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Jordan Spieth is getting back into rhythm at this week’s Valspar Championship, and he’s already got his eyes on the Masters – and Tiger Woods.

Jordan Spieth had a slower start than usual in 2018 due to mononucleosis late last fall. That meant he had to move his usual off-season tune up of the golf game to the start of the year.

"“It’s just been kind of simple things, alignment stuff that typically had been done in the off-season, but I was pretty sick, and then, therefore, I had to kind of learn on the go during the season to start,” he explained. “I’ve just been trying to get comfortable with the short game, kind of just in my stance, just seeing my lines and when you can’t really see your lines it’s difficult to commit.”"

His goal, he said, was to be ready for the Masters.  This week, he’s going to be a little under the radar because one of his two playing companions for the first two rounds is Tiger Woods.  Though the spotlight won’t primarily be on him, he will still feel the Tiger effect. The third in this major championship threesome is Henrik Stenson.

“I’ll feel probably more nervous on the first tee tomorrow than I do on the first tee normally just given the setting,” he admitted.

Spieth has played in the same group with Tiger before and recalled practice matches for Presidents Cup.

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"“I remember I played with Strick [Steve Stricker] and Tiger and Kuch, I think, in a match in one of those practice rounds,” he recalled. “We were trying to get off quickly in front of the groups, and I remember being unbelievably nervous on that shot and for most of the shots I hit in the round.”"

Like most in golf, Spieth has watched Woods’ recent comeback with interest. He thinks Woods’ game is progressing and that he looks much better than the time Spieth played with him when Woods suffered from back pain.

"“If he would just be given some time and not be, you know, bugged there every single shot every round. He’s going to need some reps on the course,” Spieth pointed out. “The same thing is going on right now, it’s not like he’s had a lot of tournament experience. He’s played what this year, three, four times? So, that’s not a lot of golf in the last four years. But, he seems to be more prepared, healthier and ready to go and patient.”"

Spieth relishes the possibility of facing a healthy Tiger

Spieth was an unabashed Woods fan as well as being a Phil Mickelson fan growing up.  He still recalls what he thought was Woods’ most impressive shot. And he remembers Mickelson’s victory putt for his first Masters title.

“It goes back to when Tiger holed that chip on 16 and ended up going to a playoff with Chris DiMarco,” he recalled adding that it was the greatest thing he has seen in sports. “I remember the first time I played Augusta, it was the first thing I was interested in, was going behind 16, putting the tee down wherever that pin was and hitting that shot, seeing how difficult that was in person.”

While he embraces the chance to play his first two rounds with Woods, he also knows it can be intimidating.

“When you’re on the tee with someone like Tiger who you have just grown up, dominating the sport, watching him dominate the sport, it’s something that you just kind of get used to, I guess and am I totally used to it? No,” he added.

However, with Woods back in the game, the younger guys may finally get a chance to take Woods on for a tournament title.

Next: Adam Hadwin confident ahead of Valspar Championship title defense

"“We all hope for that Sunday afternoon pairing along side, all us young guys, we want that chance to be able to battle it out with him on Sunday,” Spieth noted. “I know he wants that, too, to kind of show us what he’s done to other people and (we) want to be the person to take him over, even if it’s not 2000 Tiger, it’s still Tiger on a Sunday and that’s something that would be an experience that we haven’t had before.”"

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