Jordan Spieth is eager to put recent disappointing performances behind as he prepares for the Bridgestone Invitational this week, his first tournament since the US Open.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed another good season on the PGA Tour, continuing his rapid rise from obscurity only a few years ago. The world number two captured his second title of the season at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, but since then has put in a few underwhelming performances.
‘[I am] excited about this week, feels like a good year, doesn’t feel like a great year yet,’ he said. ‘It’s my third time [at Firestone Country Club], good to be back here. The fairways have got even smaller. It’s such a challenging golf course, [but] it looks like it’s going to firm, which I like.’
He’s had mixed fortunes at Firestone Country Club. In his 2014 debut he finished 49th on his own, but followed it up with a share of 10th last year, thanks to a final-round 66.
A tie for 57th at the Memorial tournament was disappointing, but he performed better in his title defence of the US Open a week later and shared 37th place.
‘I drove the ball really solid that week,’ he said of his recent trip to Oakmont Country Club. ‘I really struggled with soft, fast greens, that’s just something I need to work on, I think I tried to do a little too much too early.’
Spieth is in the top-20 on the PGA Tour in terms of strokes gained: off-the-tee and strokes gained: tee-to-green. He leads the rankings in putting average and birdie or better conversion rate, while also ranking eighth in approach to the green between 200 and 225 yards. If the Texan wunderkind plays his regular game you can expect to find him near the top come Sunday.
