A week ago at THE PLAYERS Championship, Jordan Spieth felt like he played better than what his score indicated. Missing the cut didn’t exactly ease the frustration.
On Thursday, it was just the opposite. Spieth shot a 6-under 64 on a course that hasn’t always been kind to him. In the process, he took one big first step to fulfilling his dream of winning his hometown event, the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Trying to beat the darkness caused by a 2-1/2 rain delay to start the day, Spieth managed his way around the TPC Four Seasons Resort course despite some balky iron play at times. The 64 ties for his lowest round in this event and puts him just one shot off the lead shared by Sergio Garcia, Danny Lee and Johnson Wagner.
“I got of the most out of the round -- which is what I was looking for last week that I just couldn't get,” Spieth said.
Thursday’s round started when Spieth holed out from the intermediate rough for birdie on the par-4 first, an indication that maybe he was due for some good fortune after failing to take advantage of prime scoring conditions in the first two rounds last week at TPC Sawgrass.
Another indication that he had put his troubles of last week behind him came in the form of a couple of mid-range putts – a 13-footer at nine for birdie and another 13-footer at 14 for a bounce-back birdie after his lone bogey of the round at the par-3 13th.
I certainly felt more comfortable over the ball last week than I did today, but I think it may have been just been kind of an off-day because I've been striking it great even this whole week.
He wasn’t able to hole those kinds of putts at TPC Sawgrass, which drove him to put in extra time on the practice green prior to this week’s event.
Yet he still thought he played better tee-to-green last week – although you wouldn’t know it by the stats, as he hit 16 of 18 greens.
“I hit it better last week than I did today,” Spieth said. “I certainly felt more comfortable over the ball last week than I did today, but I think it may have been just been kind of an off-day because I've been striking it great even this whole week.”
His iron play Thursday was testing his patience, but his recent work on being more “neutral” and less emotional may be starting to pay off.
“I was getting frustrated with these iron shots because it was like throwing darts out there and I was 40 feet with an 8-iron,” Spieth said. “It's a driving range shot that normally expecting within 15 feet and after a couple misses and really almost a two-way miss today, it's frustrating.
“But the fact that I was still controlling the speed well and then taking advantage of the easier holes certainly settled me down.”
Spieth said he’s feeling more of a sense of calmness this week than in previous appearances back home – and that may have contributed to his solid start Thursday.
Moving forward, the key will be to keep those emotions in check as the crowds build in hopes of seeing their hometown hero stay in contention. Spieth’s track record on the weekend at the Byron Nelson is inconsistent at best – just three of his 10 weekend rounds are in red numbers, compared to 10 of his 11 rounds in the first two days.
“This week felt a bit different than the past couple years as a professional,” Spieth said. “I don't know what it is. Maybe kind of the bad weather has kind of softened the crowds and hasn't felt the same.
“At this point if you're in contention on the weekend it doesn't matter where we're playing, there are huge crowds. Yeah, I don't know what it is. Everything has been a bit more calm this week and it's been a lot easier to just stay in a normal rhythm.”