Jordan Spieth’s on-course efficiency has been a little bit of a roller-coaster journey in recent times.
The 32-year-old has 13 PGA Tour wins, the latest of which was the 2022 RBC Heritage, however has been battling to re-harness the early-career type that propelled him to a few main championships between 2015 and 2017. Since that heydey, he has additionally been coping with a nagging wrist harm for which he lastly underwent surgical procedure in late 2024.
So far, the 2026 season has proven encouraging indicators of promise for Spieth, who now has 4 top-12 finishes in his final six begins. And finally week’s Masters, Spieth closed with a final-round 68 — and made an especially bold claim concerning the present state of his sport.
‘Best I ever hit it here’: Jordan Spieth makes bold claim after Masters loss
“I hit it better than the year I won and I hit it way better than any of the second places or fourths that I hit it,” he said. “Probably the best I ever hit it here and I typically putt these greens very well.”
That’s fairly excessive reward, particularly contemplating Spieth’s efficiency at Augusta National through the years, which incorporates six prime 5s and 10 prime 25s in 13 appearances.
Spieth’s rosy evaluation of his ball-striking is actually an encouraging metric of progress, however one of many hallmarks of Spieth’s sport is his penchant for on-course theatrics — no less than in terms of scoring. And at this week’s RBC Heritage — one other course the place Spieth has had spectacular success through the years, with 5 top-12 finishes in 10 appearances, together with the above-mentioned win and a runner-up in 2023 — Spieth is again to his acquainted antics.
At first look, Spieth’s opening rounds of 69-72 at Harbour Town are considerably ho-hum — one below par, 13 photographs behind chief Matt Fitzpatrick. But stats guru Justin Ray took a more in-depth look and uncovered an astounding but completely on-brand information level.
In the primary 36 holes at Harbour Town, Spieth made 9 birdies. Not unhealthy! Unfortunately these birdies had been largely nullified by 4 double-bogeys — one within the first spherical and three within the second.
According to Ray’s analysis, that made Spieth the one participant during the last 20 years on the PGA Tour to have 4 or extra double-bogeys and 0 bogeys by way of 36 holes in any match.
Unfortunately, the bogey-free streak didn’t final for much longer. On Saturday, Spieth’s first singular bogey of the match discovered him on the par-4 sixth, with a three-putt. But that mis-step was, unsurprisingly, preceded by a birdie on the par-5 2nd.
For higher or worse, Spieth stays one of many sport’s most entertaining gamers.
