2021 US Open: Top 10 power rankings at Torrey Pines
If I had to do my Open Championship power rankings for Royal St. George’s right now, Jordan Spieth would be much higher. Perhaps No. 1. His game sets up great for links golf like we saw in his last major championship triumph in 2017.
That doesn’t mean a three-time major champ like him can’t find a way to get it done at less favorable venues.
Spieth has ascended back toward the mountain top, dropping from No. 1 in the world to nearly outside the top 100 and back up again inside the top 30.
He’s arguably been the top player of 2021. At least the most consistent. Spieth won for the first time in four years at the Valero Texas Open. It’s one of a staggering eight top-10s in 13 starts.
Close calls in Phoenix and Fort Worth, to name a couple, indicate he should have taken home more trophies than just the one.
Spieth finished T-3rd at the Masters for his 28th made cut in 33 major starts. He owns 11 top-10s with three wins, three seconds and three thirds.
The 27-year-old ranks 25th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.555) and ninth in SG around the green (.445. He’ll have to rely on his elite approach play and craftiness on and around the greens to get by.
Spieth has struggled with driving accuracy and is just a modest 83rd (298.0) in driving distance. Fortunately, an expected firm and fast layout should help him out with the latter.
That will be a change of pace from the Farmers Insurance Open in January. Spieth has played the event six times. He’s made three cuts at Torrey Pines, including T-19th in 2014. The former Texas Longhorn’s only MC of 2021 came here.
Course history and playing style are reasons I’m not willing to vault him higher. He’ll still find a way to post a score and hang around.