Jordan Spieth found himself in a pickle at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. On the par-5 fifth hole, Spieth piped his drive directly into the trunk of a tree. Instead, the ball ricocheted backward, coming to rest in a difficult lie way back in the nasty rough. The conditions of the tee shot would turn out to be nearly unreal, with the fairway only 115 yards across.
As he weighed his options, Spieth thought about the wise decision—hitting a chip shot sideways back to the fairway. His caddie, Michael Greller, who has been with Spieth since his days competing in the U.S. Junior in 2011, suggested an alternative approach. Caddie Greller told Spieth to the target line, saying, “Why don’t you just shoot it there.”
Although intrigued by Greller’s proposal, Spieth would have to consider the risks. He was probably thinking something like, “If I can just get to the fairway, I’m making a 4.” He weighed this option against the danger of a worse score if he pulled the shot into the water beside the fairway. It was here that Spieth made the bolder decision. His ball clipped the first cut of grass… before barely stopping the party on the fairway.
Spieth’s third shot wide left him with a tricky 25-foot putt up the hill to an elevated hole location. He showed dazzling technical talent and poise in the clutch. Thanks to one perfect putt, he ended up carding a 4 on the hole.
This kind of risk or gambit would not be typical Spieth behavior. In doing so, he conceded that he typically shies away from moves so politically dangerous. It’s extremely difficult to get me to branch out,” he confessed. There’s no exaggeration when he says, “I chip out probably less than anybody else who ever played the game of golf.” This illustrates his willingness to engage with shots directly as opposed to proceeding more conservatively.
Afterward, Spieth spoke about how he handled the moments of highest pressure. He confessed, “It’s demoralizing enough that I will do something stupid and not do it.” His competitive spirit pushes him to take risks that peers won’t take.
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