Jordan Spieth has etched so many thrilling moments into our memory banks.
At age 25 he’s won three majors, banked $38 million in official money and made his putting an art form.
But this 2018 season will go down as Spieth’s most miserable year.
His putter went on a long vacation and the last great image we had of him was that Sunday charge at the Masters that was really great but not great enough to catch his pal Patrick Reed.
That was about it for Spieth in 2018.
He came into the playoffs hovering near that dreaded 30 number. He’s always made it to East Lake.
This time was different.
He tied for 25th at the Northern Trust, tied for 12th at the Dell then really fell on his face with a tie for 55th at Aronimink, thanks to a gosh-awful 73 on Monday in the rain.
The weather was as gloomy as Spieth’s season, a great setting for him to fall out of the Top 30.
Thirty-one to be exact.
“I was in control of my own destiny and didn’t have it this week. Riding some momentum, but all in all, game kind of got a little off,” was about all Spieth could say after he finished, finished for the season.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Spieth didn’t meet some funky tour requirements about number of starts.
He did not meet the PGA Tour’s strength-of-field scheduling requirement. That crazy tour policy says players must start 25 events in either the current or previous season or else add one new event they have not played in the last four years.
Spieth played 23 events this season and his appearance at the Ryder Cup will mark his 24th official start. Since he did not add a new event in 2017-18, he will come up one start short of satisfying the policy. A trip to the Tour Championship would have counted for No. 25.
“I talked to the Tour a little while back and I didn’t really think much of it, and it becomes a situation then, you know,” was Spieth’s shrug of the shoulders reaction.
“I obviously accept whatever fine it is and move on and try and add one every year, but it’s kind of tough.”
Yeah, tough all around for Jordy.
Perhaps between now and the Ryder Cup, someone will return the real Jordan Spieth.
This one has looked like an impersonator for most of this year.
2 Comments
RM
What happened to Jordan Spieth has been the biggest mystery to me of this golf season. Sure, he lost his putting touch, but it makes me wonder. He has access to all the tools to pull it together – best coaching in the world, time to practice at the best venues around, the best equipment and technology, etc. I don’t mean this as a critique; there’s no doubt in my mind he is doing everything he can. I’m just perplexed at the slide and loss of a year by such a focused, talented player.
Tom Edrington
RM: Couldn’t have said it better….kid has everything going for him, doesn’t he?