Jordan Spieth reveals how Tiger Woods’ event helped him contend at The Sentry
Jordan Spieth reveals how Tiger Woods’ story helped him compete in The Sentry.
Spieth performed well at The Sentry in Maui, thanks in part to his performance at the Hero World Challenge.
Jordan Spieth, PGA Tour, goalkeeper
Jordan Spieth was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft. Jordan Spieth spent much of the 2023 Ryder Cup recovering from an ulnar nerve injury that affected his wrist, hand and fingers.
He switched clubs for a while throughout the fall, but skipped the first weekend in December with the goal of returning to tournaments. His goal is the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods in the Bahamas.
Spieth performed well there, finishing sixth in the 20-man division. But his struggles in the Bahamas allowed him to carry that momentum into this week’s event in Maui.
“The Tiger event meant a lot to me. I had no choice but to go out and fight,” Spieth said after Saturday’s third round at The Sentry. “It’s great to be here and pick up where we left off.”
Spieth shot a 6-under 67 on Saturday to move up the leaderboard. He is now 19 under par, two strokes behind Chris Kirk, with only Akshay Bhatia separating Spieth from the lead. The former world number one knows he has to go down to win the RBC Heritage for the first time since 2022.
“I think we just need to shoot more than six,” Spieth said. “The scores are crazy.”
The Kapalua Farm course produces many birds. It also gives fans great entertainment to start each year with. Spieth knows it too.
“Honestly, it’s a lot more fun. “We’ve got to make more shots,” he said.
“You can see some teeth in the hole. You can drive 400 yards down the fairway so you can still hit your driver, but you’ll need another shot to shorten it. This is very strange. “It’s a strange scenario that can only be experienced here.”
The elevation changes on Maui’s coastal golf courses are incredible. There is an elevation difference of approximately 150m from the highest point of the 17th green to the lowest point of the 8th green.
Goalkeeper, PGA Tour
Hole 18 of the Kapalua Plantation Course. This allows players to travel nearly 500 yards as a downhill par 4 hole. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the course determines who plays well. “Some players are at the top of their game, but they don’t make enough birdies or they don’t get enough rest,” Spieth added.
“Some players are doing well, but there is still a lot to do. Sometimes Kapalua can do this for at least a few rounds, but it usually starts appearing throughout the tournament. There were players like me who thought they did well hitting 4 under par, and there were players who hit 6 under par and made a few mistakes. “It’s not always fair, but that’s the game.”
Golf is a really fun game, but Spieth is excited to be competing in the Bahamas this week before the Maui tournament. Prior to the Hero World Challenge, Spieth had just one top-10 finish since the US Open in June. In other words, FedEx St. tied for 6th place at the Championship of St. Jude. Still, his late-season slump remains in the rearview mirror.
Spieth is now happy that his spinal cord injury is no longer bothering him. So much so that I didn’t think about it all week. However, he continues physical therapy to become stronger than ever in 2024. Even three or four times a week. But it’s all part of his strategic recovery process. That, along with his recent experience in the Bahamas, could help him rise to the top in Maui. It’s a great start to the new year for the three-time national champion.
