AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jordan Spieth finally put together a bogey-free round at Augusta National on Saturday, firing a 3-under 69 that marked his first clean card here since the second round of the 2016 Masters.
That 2016 round was just his second bogey-free performance in 10 career attempts at Augusta. While Saturday’s clean scorecard represented a personal victory, Spieth wasn’t exactly celebrating.
“That’s the goal every time I tee it up on No. 1,” Spieth said of the bogey-free round, though his tone suggested mixed emotions.
Frustration has been a constant companion for Spieth this week. After his drive on the par-4 18th clipped a tree branch during Friday’s round, he vented to caddie Michael Greller.
Spieth: “At this point, ‘4’ is out the window. It’s not happening. … I’m so frustrated.”
Greller: “Well, get over it. You gotta get over it.”
Spieth: “That’s a full f—ing shot.”
He was right – the bad break led to a closing bogey on Friday.
The frustration continued Saturday when Spieth dropped to his knees after his approach at the par-4 14th, raising his club above his head as if contemplating what to do with it. He saved par there, but the reaction highlighted his biggest struggle.
“My iron play killed me the last two days,” Spieth admitted.
The numbers back that up. He missed six greens Saturday, matching his opening round total, after hitting just half his greens on Friday.
There have been bright spots, though. Spieth seems to have found comfort with his newest driver – his fifth different one since cracking his driver face at Pebble Beach. He also caught a massive break at the par-5 eighth hole Saturday, where he hooked his second shot into the trees and immediately hit a provisional, only to discover his original ball was sitting on grass with a playable lie.
His putting has been the most reliable part of his game.
“I made a few 8-footers for par,” Spieth said. “You’re just going to have that at some point here, even in a really flawless round. Like on 4, I landed it just over the bunker and it shot just over the green, and if it stays on, it’s an easy two-putt, but just over, you’re like, I can’t chip it within 8 feet.”
That’s the challenge of Augusta – small misses can create big problems.
“If you’re just a little off on the direction, then you’ve got to make that 6-, 7-, 8-footer for par, and I’ve been putting those really well as of late,” he explained. “I felt very comfortable if I had to give myself 6 feet for par.”
At 1 under for the tournament, Spieth knows he won’t be in contention on Sunday.
“I kind of thought if I was perfect on the weekend, which is a lot to ask, that I’d maybe try to shoot 10 under on the weekend,” Spieth said. “And 7 would be a lot to ask for tomorrow. If I went bogey-free today, I thought maybe I’d get four or five birdies.”
