Much like cricket enthusiasts who hail Steve Smith as the “greatest since Bradman”, golf analysts once regarded Jordan Spieth as the finest player since Tiger Woods.
The young Texan was undoubtedly on a path that suggested he could forge a career worthy of comparison with the legendary Woods.
His early triumphs closely echoed those of a man who had captivated fans for nearly 30 years.
Spieth’s 2015 season was nothing short of sensational, arguably the most remarkable since Woods’ astonishing run in 2000.
At just 21 years of age, the golfing prodigy had the sporting world at his mercy.
However, what followed was a jaw-dropping decline that experts, including Spieth himself, have taken years to unpack without success.
As he heads into this week’s PGA Championship with a chance to achieve a career grand slam, uncertainty looms over which version of Jordan Spieth will appear at Quail Hollow.
Jordan Spieth was once regarded as the finest since Tiger Woods. Nine
THE RISE
Spieth achieved recognition as America’s top junior golfer at just 17.
He became one of only two players to win the US Junior Amateur twice, and was named the 2009 Rolex Junior Player of the Year.
By this point, he was already being compared to Woods, who had secured 15 major titles and was widely hailed as the greatest golfer of all time.
So much anticipation surrounded Spieth that he received an exemption to compete in the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship—the first amateur exemption since 1995. Woods had previously received one in 1993.
In his debut on the PGA Tour as a 17-year-old, Spieth made the cut, becoming the sixth youngest to do so, and finished tied for 16th place. His rise in the golfing world was swift.
By 2012, he was the world’s leading amateur golfer, but his talent led him to turn professional, forgoing amateur play and university. Spieth made the cut in five out of eight PGA Tour events as an amateur.
By March of the following year, he had earned Special Temporary Member status, granting him unlimited access to sponsor exemptions—proof of the faith the golf community had in his potential.
Two weeks before his 20th birthday, he clinched his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic, winning in a three-way playoff. He became the fourth youngest victor in PGA history and the first teenager to win on tour since 1931. Spieth had officially arrived.
In 2013, he was awarded the title of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and selected for Fred Couples’ Presidents Cup team, ending the season ranked 22nd in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
During his Masters debut in April 2014, he led the field in the final round but ultimately finished tied for second behind Bubba Watson—the youngest runner-up in Masters history.
He entered the OWGR top 10 for the first time, and his momentum continued.
He was selected for the Ryder Cup team, the youngest in nearly 90 years. That November, he travelled to Australia, winning the Australian Open with a course record 63, defeating golfing giants such as Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.
What transpired in the following months became one of the most impressive stretches of form in men’s professional golf history.
THE CAREER SEASON
Spieth, now 21, launched his 2015 season with victory at the Valspar Championship, marking just his second win on the PGA Tour.
In April, he returned to the iconic Augusta National, where he had fallen short the year before, and became the youngest player to lead The Masters after carding an 8-under 64—just one stroke shy of the course record.
By the end of round two, he had shattered the course’s 36-hole record at an astounding 14-under. The next day, he broke the 54-hole record, finishing 16-under.
This time, Spieth maintained his lead and secured his first major victory—the illustrious green jacket—by equalling Tiger’s 1997 score of 18-under, becoming the first player to lead the tournament from start to finish since 1976. He also set the record for most birdies recorded at The Masters.
Spieth soared to No.2 on the OWGR.
Jordan Spieth celebrates in the green jacket following his 2015 Masters victory. AAP
In June, he triumphed in the US Open, marking his second major win and becoming the sixth player to win both the Masters and the US Open in a single season—joining Woods, who had achieved this in 2002. Spieth was the youngest US Open champion since 1923.
At the PGA Championship, the third major of the year, he finished second to Aussie Jason Day. This runner-up finish propelled him to the No.1 spot in the OWGR—officially making him the best men’s golfer in the world at just 22 years old.
Spieth went on to win both the John Deere Classic and the Tour Championship, culminating in a phenomenal season. Five victories, including two majors, made it the most successful individual season since Woods’ 2000 campaign with nine victories and three majors. Spieth earned approximately USD$22 million in prizemoney for his efforts.
In 2016, he won two events, and in 2017, he clinched his third major title—the British Open—among three wins that year. He became the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1963 to secure three majors before turning 24.
In just four years on the professional circuit, he had notched up 13 wins, including two Australian Open titles, and added three major trophies to his collection. At 24, he was on a clear trajectory to become the next great golfer, following in Woods’ footsteps.
THE FALL
The dreaded yips.
This term sends shivers down the spine of any golfer, and in 2018, Jordan Spieth encountered them in full force.
The Dallas native, who had only recently dominated the PGA Tour, found himself losing his form within two years, an affliction he couldn’t shake.
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/b7sFa/" title="iframe" class="sc-dxYlaw jjlTFD
He didn’t win a single event in 2018 and plummeted from the top ranking to 17th. The following year, he again finished without a victory, ending 2019 at a lowly 59th place in the world rankings.
“Last year I struggled significantly with my putting in the first half… that improved, but my swing then fell apart,” Spieth reflected in 2019.
Hank Haney, Woods’ former coach, publicly stated that Spieth was grappling with the yips.
“He needs to fix his putting,” Haney asserted in 2019. “I believe he will, but it’s essential. I think that issue has affected his entire game. When I watch him putt, he’s visibly shaking. I don’t care if the putt goes in or not… He has missed more short putts than anyone else on tour.”
The most talented golfer of his generation suddenly found himself struggling to compete.
In the following eight years, Spieth managed only two victories—the 2021 Texas Open and the 2022 RBC Heritage.
Despite his challenges, he remains one of the most entertaining players on tour, capable of breathtaking shots one moment and mis-hitting the next. His on-course antics are lively—a rarity in golf—and broadcasters often have to apologise for his colourful language.
At this year’s Players Championship, he famously threw a fairway wood in frustration after hitting a water hazard with his approach. That scene has become all too familiar, and his mental state has been a frequent topic of discussion among commentators.
In 2023, Spieth battled a wrist injury that hindered his performance for months, leading him to undergo surgery after missing seven cuts on tour in 2024.
THE COMEBACK?
Spieth is aiming to replicate Rory McIlroy’s recent success and become only the seventh player to complete the prestigious career grand slam.
With only the PGA Championship trophy missing from his accolades, he arrives at Quail Hollow this week with an opportunity to make history.
“It’s always been a target for me,” Spieth stated ahead of his appearance at Quail Hollow. “If I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, this would be it.
“Seeing Rory win after his long quest was truly inspiring.
“Achieving a career grand slam is a rare feat, and there are good reasons for that.”
Currently ranked No. 48 in the world, it has been over three years since he last won a tournament.
However, there are signs that Spieth’s form is on the mend following his wrist surgery, as he recently shot his lowest round since 2021, carding a 62 to finish fourth at the Byron Nelson earlier this month.
Out of 11 events this year, he has made the cut 10 times and registered three top-10 finishes.
This form suggests he has as good a chance as anyone to claim the Wanamaker Trophy come Monday morning (AEST).
His competitive drive appears to be rekindled—if it ever truly disappeared.
Spieth longs to compete alongside his close friend Scottie Scheffler, who has recently emerged as the top men’s golfer in the world.
“What he’s doing is incredibly inspiring, especially considering it wasn’t long ago when I was definitely better than him, and admitting that is tough for me,”Spieth acknowledged about Scheffler last week.
Tiger Woods captured his 15th major at 43, while Phil Mickelson triumphed in the 2021 PGA Championship at 50.
At 31, Spieth still has ample time.
While many have prematurely written his career’s obituary since the glory days of 2015, hints of resurgence may still be present.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
