Jordan Spieth’s fall from grace over the last decade has been a difficult watch.
After he burst onto the scene in 2009, joining Tiger Woods as the only multiple-time winner of the US Amateur, Jordan Spieth was compared to Jack Nicklaus early in his career. He’d won three of the four majors by 2017, and it would have been unthinkable to say he wouldn’t win another over the next eight years.
But heading into 2026, Spieth hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since the 2022 RBC Heritage. He’s battled countless injuries in recent seasons, and Spieth wasn’t selected for the Ryder Cup for the first time in his career in 2025.
Last year did see some signs of improvement for Spieth, leaving many to speculate whether this season could see a return to winning ways. And after his first round of the 2026 PGA Tour season, there could be some room for optimism.
Jordan Spieth optimistic about 2026 after opening round of Sony Open
Spieth has cut a frustrated figure in recent years, and that’s understandable. His ongoing wrist injury forced him to fundamentally change his swing, but a successful surgery in 2024 means he’s completely healthy going into this year.
That’s allowed Spieth to regain confidence in his swing, and it’s already clear that he’s approaching this season with a new attitude. He said the best is yet to come after a two-under opening round at the Sony Open.
He said afterwards, “I had a healthy offseason, so working on kind of my hand path. My hands had not been doing what they did when I was at my best for quite a while now, and now they kind of can.
What do you expect from Jordan Spieth in 2026?
Will he win on the PGA Tour this season?
“It’s a combination of how it carries the club and where it gets to in space. It’s one thing to be doing it on the driving range. It’s another today to do it when you’re playing. It’s another to do it in tournament play.
“Today was significantly better than a month ago as far as that goes, and I was able to be more outwardly focused. I think it’s only going to get better from here. I really, really was very pleased with what I saw today, and I like what’s coming. I just need to tighten it up on and around the greens.”
It’s great to see Spieth in the right headspace this season and looking ahead with confidence. We haven’t seen that from him in a long time, and there’s every reason to think Spieth can win on the PGA Tour in 2026.
Jordan Spieth responds to criticisms about his overthinking
Spieth has often been critiqued for overthinking his golf. He’s obsessed with trying to break down the game mentally and has perhaps suffered from paralysis by analysis over the years. That was put to him at the Sony Open, and he replied:
“I’ve always liked to have a swing thought. Luckily, because of all that work, it doesn’t have to be as severe as what could make it more challenging to hit shots. If you’re trying to make swings and you’re in these conditions, that’s a very difficult way to play.
“So I’ve been working hard on trying get to a position where I can be very dialed in outwardly and it doesn’t have to be perfect. If I can inch my way that way and start to see some shots that I didn’t have the last couple years, then I’m going to gain confidence and it’s going to get better day in and day out.”
He continued, “Structurally, I should be better with my mechanics, and therefore I should be significantly more consistent. You know, I would imagine that the — hopefully the worst — I don’t want to call it that, but the worst I could be would be week one, and it should get better here forth.
What do you think is the real reason why Jordan Spieth has not won on the PGA Tour since 2022?
“I have closure on exactly what I need to be working. And although it may not be all the way there where I want it in tournament play, each round as I continue to trust it should get a little bit better and better.
“And not caring about the result and just being dialed into the next shot is highly important right now because it allows me to free up a little bit more and I make better swings and hit better shots.
“So trying to enjoy myself more, too. It was a bit of a grind of a last couple years, and if I’m not having fun out here – I mean, I know ten years from now I’m going to wish I had these ten years back. I certainly wish I could go back ten years.
“All in all, if you’re not having fun, what are you doing out here? All that together should really help.”
Judging from those quotes, Spieth is well aware that he can get in his own head during a round. But it’s one thing to say you’re going to take it shot by shot, and it’s another thing to actually do it. Let’s see if Spieth can hold himself together mentally if times get tough during the season.
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