SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In his second occasion after getting back from a prolonged absence, Jordan Spieth appeared like his outdated self through the WM Phoenix Open on Thursday.
The three-time main winner carded a 3-under 68 on Day One, a spherical that featured loads of theater. He birdied the par-4 sixth gap from effectively off the green, which concerned navigating a tree and draining a 56-foot putt — that new putter of his labored effectively there.
One other spotlight of his got here earlier in his spherical. Having began on the tenth gap, Spieth caught an method to 6 ft on the well-known sixteenth gap. However he missed the birdie attempt, which led to some morning boos and sighs from these watching within the stadium.
Spieth hit solely six fairways, too, however totaled 4 birdies, three of which got here on the again 9.
“It felt good. I felt like Sunday final week. I form of didn’t belief what I used to be doing,” Spieth defined.
“My wrist harm within the first spherical final week, and I went away from all of the work I had been doing simply to govern what I may, after which I mentioned, you realize what, I simply should get via it. So I used to be again to the established order Sunday on all of the stuff that I had been doing, and it paid off there.”
Spieth then revealed that he jammed his wrist through the first spherical final week at Spyglass Hill, doing so from the bunker on the primary gap. He added that it “locked up” however determined to play via it.
“Fortunately, it is a actually good take a look at these few weeks, and my expectations are low,” Spieth mentioned.
“I anticipate myself to make good swings, however so far as outcomes, it’s exhausting to assume that I must be anticipating rather a lot after six months after. Having mentioned that, I do know the place I used to be immediately, and I do know that I can do higher than I did immediately. If I can attempt to put up just a few scores at or higher than immediately, you then by no means know, I begin getting again within the combine and it turns into fairly enjoyable and hopefully extra constant.”
When he walked off the golf course, Spieth sat two strokes again of Justin Thomas and Nicolai Højgaard, every of whom posted 5-under 66s to steer the morning wave. Any stable end result for Spieth at this time limit can be akin to taking part in with home cash, figuring out he has loads of work forward to get again within the swing of issues. However, as he alluded to, if he retains placing stable under-par rounds collectively, who is aware of the place he’ll stand come Sunday. In any case, he has performed effectively at TPC Scottsdale earlier than, ending among the many prime six or higher in three of his final 4 begins. The previous Texas Longhorn posted 4 rounds within the 60s final yr to tie for sixth, the most effective outcomes he had all season.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.
