Houston Open: troubling trend continues for Jordan Spieth
By Tim Letcher
Jordan Spieth hoped for good things to happen on Thursday at the Houston Open. Instead, it was the same story he has experienced recently.
Jordan Spieth experienced more of the same on Thursday at the Houston Open. Unfortunately for Spieth, this is a trend he would rather not be going through.
Spieth’s recent trend on the PGA Tour has been that he plays well for most or a round, or even a tournament, only to see it fall apart in the matter of a few holes. That’s exactly what happened to him again on Thursday in his home state of Texas.
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He started his day in fine fashion, with no problems early in the round. Spieth parred the first hole then stuck his tee shot on the par-3 second hole to within 10 feet. He made the birdie putt to get to 1-under on his round.
Spieth followed that with a nice up-and-down on the par-5 third hole, registering another birdie and getting to 2-under par. At that point, he was one shot off the lead, even though it was still early in the day.
The rest of the front side was fairly uneventful for the former major champion. He parred six consecutive holes to close his front nine with a 2-under par 33.
Spieth looked to get things going on the back nine, and it started well for him.
He hit a beautiful approach shot on the par-4 10th hole, leaving him about five feet for birdie. He made the putt to move to 3-under and into a tie for the lead at the time.
On the par-3 11th hole, Spieth hit the green, but was more than 50 feet from the hole. His lag putt left him about 10 feet for par and he missed, suffering his first bogey of the day.
However, Spieth bounced right back with another outstanding approach shot, this one to within five feet on the par-4 12th. He made that putt to get right back to 3-under on his round.
Then came that pesky stretch of holes that has plagued Spieth in recent months. He bogeyed the par-4 13th after missing the green with his approach. On the 14th, he got into the rough and was able to get the ball on the green with a chance at par, but he missed a 12-foot putt. Another bogey, this one dropping him to 1-under.
On the par-3 15th hole, Spieth struggled again. He missed the green with his tee shot and was unable to get on the green with his second. He got on the green in three and had six feet for his bogey. But he barely missed the putt and tapped in for a double bogey. In three holes, Spieth went from 3-under to 1-over.
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He would par the 16th hole before finding more trouble on 17. His errant tee shot went way, way left. His second shot went into the water next to the green. After a drop in the rough, his fourth shot got him on the green, but some 45 feet from the cup. He would two putt for another double bogey. That meant Spieth played five holes in six over par.
Spieth did par the ninth hole to close his round but the damage was already done. And unfortunately for Spieth, it was a story he has seen way too often lately.