Jordan Spieth approaches the 18th green at Augusta National with a comfortable lead. The crowd roars, celebrating his imminent victory. As the sun sets, casting long shadows across the course, Spieth pauses to tie his shoelace.
He had envisioned this moment countless times, but now, at the 2015 Masters, he mostly just wanted it to be over.
`I was almost hurrying to finish instead of savoring it,` Spieth reflects. `You`d expect to want to prolong it, but after the intense pressure of leading from day one, I was simply ready for it to be done.`
Revisiting that final hole, you can see his restlessness. He fiddles with his hair and on his crucial second-to-last putt, CBS commentator Nick Faldo noted it was his `worst stroke of the week,` a push to the right from five feet. He tapped in, embraced his caddie, Michael Greller, and then was enveloped in hugs from family. His grandfather`s words, `I wanted to be here for this,` resonated in Spieth`s ear. Encouraged by his parents to acknowledge the supportive crowd, he took a few steps around the green, then quickly exited.
In moments, it was over. Spieth shook hands with waiting caddies, entered scoring, and soon found himself in Butler Cabin, facing Billy Payne, the club chairman. He declared his ambition to become a two-time champion, like Bubba Watson, who was about to present him with the green jacket.
A two-time champion. He was just 21, a one-time champion for barely half an hour.
Ten years on, Spieth remains a one-time Masters winner, carrying the marks of a career that hasn`t fully met early expectations. Looking back at that rushed final hole, Spieth chuckles softly at the speed of it all.
`I hope to have another chance like that,` Spieth says, `and perhaps I`d handle it differently.`
THE MAGNITUDE of Spieth`s 2015 performance and his captivating style cannot be overstated. With Tiger Woods` era of dominance fading, Spieth, alongside Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, stepped into the spotlight. Spieth, being the youngest, was seen as a golfing prodigy, reminiscent of Woods.
Beyond results, Spieth`s appeal lay in his artistry on the course. Unlike power hitters, Spieth excelled in the nuanced aspects of the game—creative chipping, precise pitching, and clutch putting, all highly engaging to watch.
His shots curved around obstacles, he dramatically holed out from bunkers, and even after errant drives, he`d conjure miraculous recoveries and sink crucial par putts.
Curtis Strange once remarked on Spieth`s uncanny ability to chip in, drawing parallels to Tom Watson`s consistency, emphasizing it was skill, not luck.
Ben Crenshaw, a Masters mentor to Spieth, likened his bold approach to Wyatt Earp, describing him as a `gunslinger` on the course, unafraid to take risks.
Spieth`s charm was undeniable. He displayed class, like congratulating Zach Johnson after narrowly missing the 2015 British Open playoff, yet also a playful side, like the prank on Justin Thomas in Phoenix, showcasing he wasn`t just another predictable golfer.
In 2015, Spieth topped money earnings, scoring average, and top-10 finishes. Statistically, his season ranks among the best in PGA history since 1983, comparable to Woods and Scottie Scheffler.
Matt Courchene from Data Golf noted Spieth`s pace was even ahead of Tiger`s at the same age, highlighting his extraordinary early career trajectory.
The Masters was his crowning achievement. After a runner-up finish as a rookie, he entered his second Masters on a streak of top finishes. His record-breaking 36-hole score was driven by a mindset of clarity and almost inevitability.
Spieth recalls feeling a sense of ownership after the second day, believing victory was his to claim or lose.
He held a significant lead into the weekend, maintained by a composed Saturday round. That evening, he relaxed watching `Forgetting Sarah Marshall,` preparing to make history.
Sunday saw Justin Rose challenge, but Spieth remained in control. Rose commented on Spieth`s sustained lead, and in the post-round conference, Spieth, after a brief celebration on the green, lingered to detail his final round, enthusiastically breaking down every hole and his `conquest` of his favorite tournament.
It felt like the start of a long reign. His U.S. Open win soon after fueled Grand Slam talks. While he didn`t complete it that year, his major performances cemented his place as golf`s future. Augusta National, deemed perfect for his game, seemed destined for multiple Spieth victories.
However, that didn`t materialize. Instead of continued ascent, Spieth`s career became a series of peaks and valleys, showing flashes of brilliance interspersed with periods of struggle.
AT THE 2017 BRITISH OPEN, Spieth`s wayward tee shot on the 13th seemed disastrous, landing in the dunes after hitting a spectator. It looked like a major setback.
Instead, Spieth took a penalty, recovered onto the green, saved bogey, and then remarkably went birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to secure a three-shot victory.
This marked his third major title, and while less trophy-filled than 2015, his season was statistically nearly as strong.
However, it was his last tournament win for almost four years.
The reasons for Spieth`s slump are complex. Golf is unpredictable, and history is filled with players who shone brightly but then faded.
Unlike some struggling players, Spieth retained his caddie and long-time coach, Cameron McCormick. Yet, swing adjustments, McCormick noted in 2019, deviated from his core strengths.
McCormick felt he became a secondary coach as Spieth focused less on ball control and impact, which were his hallmarks.
This inconsistency in ball-striking added pressure to his game. His driving was always variable, but his putting, once a strength, also declined, increasing mental strain.
From a top putter, Spieth`s ranking in strokes-gained putting plummeted, reflecting his struggles on the greens.
Statistics analyst Courchene points to Spieth`s short putting issues, stopping short of calling it the yips but confirming significant problems.
Low points included an 81 at Riviera in 2019, a year-long top-10 drought, and a Ryder Cup game collapse. His win count dropped from 10 between 2015-2017 to just two since 2018. Once world No. 1, he fell to 92nd and currently ranks 65th.
Spieth acknowledged the difficulty of faking confidence when feeling stuck in a rut.
Data Golf`s rankings show a stark contrast: pre-2017, Spieth rivaled legends like Woods and McIlroy; post-2017, his performance aligns with solid pros, not superstars.
The numbers are clear: Spieth`s overall game declined significantly. For someone with his early major success, `average` signifies underachievement.
Analyst Brandel Chamblee noted Spieth is statistically `half the player` he once was, a significant drop from major-winner status.
Spieth is aware of this gap, understanding that occasional wins aren`t the trajectory 2015 promised. He hasn`t won a PGA event in three years.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Spieth admits his current standing isn`t what he envisioned after 2015.
Yet, despite struggles, Masters optimism around Spieth persists. Each April, pre-tournament discussions and betting patterns highlight belief in a Spieth resurgence at Augusta. The Masters remains a symbol of hope for Spieth`s believers, a unique annual faith unmatched for players of his current level.
This raises the perennial question as Spieth returns to Augusta: Why could this year be different?
SPIETH`S VOICE BRIGHTENS when discussing Augusta National, reflecting a deep comfort. It`s akin to reminiscing about formative places, and for Spieth, that place is Augusta. (He was a mere 20 when he first contended there.)
`I feel good there because I know I can play well without my absolute best,` he explains. `I`ve birdied every hole out there.`
While technically, he hasn`t birdied the 11th in tournament play, his sentiment holds: Augusta is a place of significant experiences for him.
There are tough memories—a final-round 75 in 2017, an opening round collapse last year, and the 2016 meltdown where he lost a five-shot lead. Yet, statistically, Spieth excels at Augusta, outperforming expectations by about a stroke per round. His strengths align with what Data Golf identifies as ideal for the course.
The question remains: Can Spieth recapture that form?
Doubters point to recent missed cuts. Believers highlight his high finishes in 2021 and 2023. Spieth emphasizes a turning point at the end of last season, addressing a wrist injury that had troubled him since 2018. He underwent surgery last August.
Post-surgery, he rested, gradually returning to his earlier swing thoughts, aiming for a `reset` to his foundational techniques.
Now, Spieth claims health and confidence. At 31, with a career already feeling long, he possesses deep Augusta knowledge.
Analyst Justin Ray notes the Masters` unique favor towards long-term participants due to its consistent venue and smaller field. Spieth`s Masters history ensures he`ll be a talking point every April, regardless of current form.
History supports this hope: veterans like Fred Couples and Jack Nicklaus have shown Masters longevity. Crenshaw, a mentor, won his green jackets years apart, inspiring Spieth.
Spieth and his team note Crenshaw`s 11-year gap as a reminder that his Masters story isn`t over.
Smylie Kaufman, a former pro, encourages Spieth`s `second act,` believing the golf world awaits his next achievements.
Spieth looks forward to sharing his first act—the 2015 Masters triumph—with his children. But each return to Augusta fuels his hope for even more special moments, ones he`ll fully embrace.
`I remember the highs and lows vividly,` Spieth concludes. `And it makes me think, how can I create more memories at my favorite tournament?`
