Jordan Spieth has been sipping more than a few adult beverages from the Claret Jug since he won the Open Championship last month.
He was back to work Thursday at Firestone Country Club where it seems Tiger Woods won about 50 times in his career, but it was Spieth who showed he’s still on his game. He even managed to pull off at least one miracle shot. “I’m gonna try something stupid here,” Spieth told caddie Michael Greller after his drive at the par four eighth found the deep trees. He managed to hit his ball through a small window and the amazing shot stopped just 20 feet from the hole.
Spieth opened with a three-under par 67 at the WGC-Bridgestone on a day when a lot of big names made their presence felt.
Rory McIlroy was in there with Jordy at three-under, so was the new kid on the block — Jon Rahm. Bubba Watson was there too.
Dustin Johnson was better than he has been lately. He shot 68 on a course where he should play well.
Still, they’re all in pursuit of a guy who was visiting Firestone for the first time. Thomas Pieters birdied his first two holes of the day and that set the tone for the big guy who bombs it off the tee. He had a perfect bogey-free day and finished five-under — 65.
Comeback rounds of the day belonged to Rickie Fowler and Harold Varner III. Fowler overcame back-to-back double-bogeys at the third and fourth holes and worked his way back to finish with an even par 70.
Same for Varner minus the back-to-back doubles. Varner stumbled going out, turned four-over then tore up the final nine holes including three straight birdies to finish his day’s work.
Who didn’t play well?
Jason Day continued his hibernation. He shot 71. So did Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.
Sergio Garcia shot 72, perhaps it was a wedding-hangover.
Henrik Stenson had no excuses as he shot 72.
