What happened to Jordan Spieth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational?
Jordan Spieth had an amazing start to the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing Friday's round in second position before ending up tied in a four-way tie for fourth position alongside Patrick Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler, and Tyrrell Hatton.
Spieth opened up with a bogey on the second hole and then birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. He made a bogey on the ninth hole and then four more birdies to finish the day with a scoring deficit of four.
Jordan Spieth started the second round with a birdie on the fourth hole and made two bogeys and five birdies on Friday to wrap up with a score under three.
Saturday was very unlucky for him as he started with two consecutive bogeys on the first two holes. He then made a birdie on the fourth hole to compensate and then made a bogey and birdie on the next two holes. He sank a bogey on the 14th hole.
On Sunday, the game turned in Jordan Spieth's favor in the first five holes when he made four birdies. But apparently, things slipped from his hand in the last few holes.
A bogey on the 14th, 15th and 17th hole ended up with Jordan Spieth finishing at 70 to only end the tournament under two, resulting in securing the fourth position.
"Probably one of the worst drives" - Jordan Spieth opens up about his performance
Jordan Spieth hit a shot much like a low double cross on the 18th on Friday. Speaking about his performance, he revealed:
"Probably one of the worst drives I’ve ever hit. I was trying to play a head-high low draw to not have it run through, and I just got real steep and drop-kicky with it, and I actually hit the ground first. I’m not sure I’ve ever done that.”
He went on to add:
"There’s that little space between the cart path and out of bounds, and I had no stance to hit it right-handed, but I had enough room to hit the shot left-handed to punch it out up the path and the rough. That would have been a better shot than taking an unplayable.
"Given that, I was standing on the cart path, I took left-handed relief on the other side and from there I’m allowed to play it any which way that I want to. I just asked a lot of questions and did what telling me to do."
Speaking about his final-day performance, Spieth said:
"I wouldn't have hit any of the putts differently. I hit my line on every single one of 'em. I misread all four by just barely"
It is important to note that Kurt Kitayama won the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational after finishing with a scoring deficit of nine. Rory McIlroy and Harris English tied for second position, followed by Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler, and Tyrell Hatton.
It was the first PGA Tour title for Kitayama, who took home $3.6 million in prize money. With the conclusion of the series, golfers are now all set to compete at The Players Championship scheduled to take place this week.