Even Jordan Spieth will admit his PGA Tour return has gone better than expected after he finished tied for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open.
The three-time major winner flew up the leaderboard on Friday after carding a six-under 65 at TPC Scottsdale. Spieth then posted two more rounds in the 60s on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, Thomas Detry was a cut above the rest in Phoenix.
Spieth is still recovering from wrist surgery but appeared completely pain-free during last week’s event. Nevertheless, the former Masters champ has had to be patient during his rehab.
What Jordan Spieth is like to work with now
During Dan Rapaport’s post-tournament debrief on YouTube, The Athletic’s Gabby Herzig revealed what Spieth’s coach, Cameron McCormick, had told her about the three-time major winner’s impatience regarding his wrist.
“It was really eye-opening, especially speaking to a guy like Cameron McCormick, who has literally been teaching Spieth since he was 12 years old. He told me this story about how Spieth came and sat down in his office, and before he had even hit a ball in front of Cameron, he said I want to win the Masters,” Herzig said.
“He used that as an example of Jordan having this quality of impatience as an athlete and a golfer that he hasn’t seen in any other kind of player that he has worked with, this relentlessness and restlessness in a way.
“Cameron described to me that this injury was basically forcing Jordan Spieth to be patient for the first time in his life. He cannot be impatient because it is going to take some time to get back into the swing of things with his wrist. He actually spoke to us after the first round at Pebble Beach about how his wrist locked up after the front nine. He hit one bunker shot, and it ruined his flow for the back nine, so there is going to be some hurdles he is going to have to jump over during this process.”
Herzig added: “But I found it so interesting McCormick saying that Spieth is actually easier to work with now than at any other time in his career working with him. I think that is a really great sign for Spieth. I think in his career history, he can get ahead of himself sometimes, and I think we are saying he transformed psychologically through this wrist surgery, which is an interesting thing to take away from it.”
Jordan Spieth’s stats from the WM Phoenix Open
There were a multitude of positive signs for Spieth during the Waste Management. Typically, the American’s iron play has always been a strength, and his approach play stood out in Phoenix.
Spieth gained 6.9 strokes with his approach shots at TPC Scottsdale, the second-best in the field. What’s more, the 31-year-old also ranked 13th for strokes gained putting. Spieth had a new putter in the bag. However, he could still tinker with his flat stick in the coming weeks.
Another positive for the American was his short game. Spieth ranked second for scrambling and only failed to get up and down once. Chipping and putting have always been Spieth’s strengths, and his excellent touch around the greens will likely underpin any success he has this year.
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