AUGUSTA, Ga. – Don’t get Jordan Spieth wrong. Winning the Masters is still “the coolest” thing the three-time major champion has ever done.
Given his results at Augusta National, however, he’s a little annoyed he hasn’t done it more.
In eight appearances at the Masters, Spieth has won once, tied for second twice and been third twice, including last year. Pretty good stats at a place that routinely chews up and spits out some of golf’s best.
“I’ve had so many close finishes and top finishes that I’m honestly a little frustrated at not having more than one,” Spieth said Tuesday. “Take any tournament, I’d want to have a couple wins at least, just given you’re in that position enough.”
While the former world No. 1 is pretty good anywhere he plays, he is one of those rare players who just seems to have a feel for Augusta National. His first year, 2014, he was in the lead early on Sunday before three bogeys in five holes dropped him to second.
He won the following year, becoming just the fifth Masters champion to lead after every round.
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Spieth praised caddie Michael Greller, who he said has developed a veritable encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge over the past eight years. Greller is at the course from “sunrise to sunset” during Masters week, studying and taking notes. He also picks the brains of Augusta National’s local caddies, including Carl Jackson.
But the greens also play to Spieth’s strengths.
Augusta National doesn’t trick up its greens, putting holes just below the crest of a hill or on a slope. The speed of the greens, and lines that can sometimes defy the laws of geometry, present enough of a challenge.
“They’re fast and firm, and if you hit it to the right spot, you’ve got a chance. If you don’t, you’ve got to play defense,” Spieth said. “I just really enjoy that. I enjoy faster greens. And then, yeah, using my imagination.”
Putting has been a struggle this season for Spieth. He ranks 120th on the PGA Tour with a 1.761 average, and is 180th in strokes gained – a category in which he was second in 2015-16. He said last week’s Valero Open was the “worst I’ve ever putted in a professional event” after he missed nine putts within 6 feet, including three-putting from 2 feet.
But Spieth said his stats are a bit misleading.
“I don’t read putts very well on slow greens,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve been on surfaces that I’ve historically putted very well this year yet, other than one or two events. So as long as it feels free as I’m stroking it and it feels like I’m able to hit my lines consistently, then I like my chances when we move into tournaments where we’re getting into greens that I have historically putted well on.”
Like the Masters.
Spieth said he and coach Cameron McCormick have been working on his putting, and he felt what they did Monday in particular “seemed to clean some things up.”
“We both agreed on what’s kind of been off in the stroke and how to fix it, so it’s just about getting enough reps to get comfortable doing it,” he said. “It’s felt good on the 18 holes that I’ve played. I’ve made some putts in the practice rounds, and a lot of times that’s a good sign.”
Especially since the rest of his game is in good shape.
“I feel like I’m ready to contend,” he said. “I’m very confident this week, even if results over the last month or so haven’t been what I was looking for. I feel like my game’s in a lot better place than even it was last year here.”
