"It doesn’t take much research to figure that out”: Jordan Spieth opens up about his track record at The Players Championship
Jordan Spieth does not have a good track record with the Players Championship. Since placing fourth in 2014 on his debut at the tournament, he's had nothing but frustration.
He recently admitted that he hasn't performed well in what is known as golf's fifth major (an unofficial title as it is not a major tournament) via Yahoo! Sports:
“I don’t have a great track record here at this event. It doesn’t take much research to figure that out.”
Nevertheless, the 15th-ranked golfer in the world is not lost on confidence going into the 2023 Players Championship.
He said that he feels confident and has since the WM Phoenix Open:
“Since Phoenix, I feel really confident. Been pushing what I’ve been working on and pushing the same thing, and my ball striking and driving has been really nice.”
Spieth has had a really tough time on this particular course:
“Visually, I’ve had a hard time on this golf course because I like to see a lot of feel shots, and out here there’s not a lot of stuff to work it off of. It seems like if a ball is moving away from a hole, it’s just going to move further away from a hole. I have a hard time visually with that, versus, say, Kapalua or Augusta.”
He detailed his strategy for the upcoming event, hoping to reverse his fortunes:
“I feel like when striking it well, having some momentum and feeling like a little bit of freedom as far as being able to play aggressively here, that’s going to kind of be my strategy this week to try and take advantage. I mean, be patient, but when you get a couple opportunities, make sure you go ahead and fire away.”
Since his debut in 2014, Spieth has had five missed cuts and two final-round slumps of 74 (2018) and 75 (2021) in the Players Championship. Both of those drastically hurt his standing.
Jordan Spieth is playing fairly well this year. The golfer placed sixth in Phoenix Open and fourth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Perhaps he can keep the momentum and play well in the place that has haunted him for years.
Jordan Spieth likes taking risks
Jordan Spieth admitted that he knows he takes risks with shots that other golfers might not.
He said via Golf.com that he has the luxury of being able to try things like that:
“I appreciate my ability to not give up and to see a shot where others may not see it and go ahead and go for it to pull it off. Because I have that luxury in my career given what I’ve accomplished that I feel like I may as well risk the shot that has the highest reward, even if it bites you a few times. But that’s how you continue to win out here.”
He will perhaps look to take a few risks and parlay them into finally seeing some success at the Players Championship. Spieth doesn't have anything to prove, but he certainly wants to exorcise these demons.