Jordan Spieth played like he had a major hangover Thursday at the John Deere Classic.
Or was it a hangover following two major victories, back-to-back?
Whatever it was, Spieth was rusty and his timing wasn’t there during the first round at the TPC Deere Run.
The golf course is the easiest, the most birdie-friendly on the PGA Tour and the scoring showed that during the first round. Spieth was throttled by a span of three bogeys in four holes starting at the eighth and he couldn’t get anything going. He finished his day with an even par 71 and even par golf at this venue gets you a ride out of town on a slow tractor come late Friday.
Spieth trails the leaders, Justin Thomas and Nicholas Thompson by eight shots. They opened with 63s to set the day one pace. Spieth’s round left him tied for 101st and if he’s going to make the cut, he’ll need to shoot three or four under on Friday. If not, he can leave early for Scotland and next week’s Open Championship.
Luke Guthrie was looking to make it a threesome at the top but he bogeyed the 18th hole to post 64 and was tied with Charles Howell III.
A familiar face in Silvis, Il, was just two back. Steve Stricker, who won this event three years straight starting in 2009, was one of five players to post a six-under par round of 65.
