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Jordan Spieth the entertainer: Why the PGA Tour needs its most human superstar now more than ever

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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Jordan Spieth is one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour, and for very good reason, what with his go-for-broke mentality and incredible ability to recover from precarious situations.

Who could forget some of the miraculous shots Spieth has pulled off during his career, including the likes of his third shot on the 13th hole at Royal Birkdale during the final round of the 2017 Open Championship, when he nearly found the green with a hybrid from the driving range?

Or how about when he literally stood on a cliff edge on the eighth hole during the Pebble Beach Pro-Am back in 2022? Or the ridiculously good flop shot he hit during the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in 2021?

The 32-year-old from Dallas has thrilled fans, not just on the PGA Tour, but all over the globe with his immensely exciting playing style, regardless of whether he is actually playing well or not.

Jordan Spieth reacting after a tee shot that will force him into using one of his signature creative recovery shots during the 2023 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, illustrating his role as golf's most unpredictable entertainer.
Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Spieth has recently gone through a swing change, having struggled on the PGA Tour for quite some time now.

The three-time major champion is without a win since April 2022 and he’ll be desperate to get back inside the winner’s circle as soon as possible.

The PGA Tour will be extremely keen for Spieth to rediscover his very best form as soon as possible as well.

Why the PGA Tour needs Jordan Spieth now more than ever

Interestingly, Spieth’s favorite shot of his entire career is the one he hit on the hole after his miraculous recovery during the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.

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Jordan Spieth lines up a putt during the first round of the Hero World Challenge
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

He hit his tee shot on the par-three 14th to just a few feet and made birdie, after bogeying the previous hole.

However, there is no doubt that he is better known for his remarkable powers of recovery than for the technically brilliant shots he has hit throughout the years.

Now, the main reason why the PGA Tour needs him back to his best is the fact that the top level of the game is completely devoid of characters right now.

Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and he is fascinating to watch because of his relentless consistency and winning mentality.

However, the 29-year-old is hardly a blockbuster star, is he? His monotonous demeanour means that he doesn’t generate excitement like Tiger Woods did in his prime.

43rd Ryder Cup - Afternoon Fourball Matches
Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

He’s not as explosive as Rory McIlroy off the tee and in general, his golf can be fairly boring at times because he is so good.

Meanwhile, Spieth is a great example of someone who attracts eyeballs to the sport because he is in trouble so often and has to rely on his incredible powers of recovery to extricate himself from problematic situations.

It’s not just his incredible talent that has endeared him to golf fans the world over – it is the fact that he has proven himself to be fallible time and time again out on the golf course, just like the rest of us!

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Having Spieth back at the top of his game would make the PGA Tour even more popular than it already is. He would draw in even more viewers and increase the gap between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf even further still.

Jordan Spieth’s greatest recovery shot of all time

Spieth’s most memorable shots throughout his career have actually been when he’s been behind the eight-ball.

There aren’t many players in the game who are better than the man from Dallas at recovering from awful positions out on the golf course, if any at all.

His best recovery shot of all time has to be the outrageous flop shot he hit during the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Spieth’s ball was in the thick rough to the left of the par-three 17th hole, midway down a steep bank.

The American hit a flop shot with full power, sending his ball around 100 feet in the air and his backward momentum from the shot saw him nearly end up in Lake Michigan, after he ran down the bank before stopping just short of the water.

He has hit many more sensational recovery shots throughout the years, like the ones at Royal Birkdale and Pebble Beach mentioned above.

However, his stunning flop shot during the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Jordan Spieth is absolutely box office and when he’s contending near the top of leaderboards, the PGA Tour is a much more exciting watch.