Jordan Spieth Did Something to Anger the Golf Gods on the Back Nine Sunday

Jordan Spieth found himself in contention for the win at the PGA Tour’s 2024 season-opening tournament, The Sentry, on Sunday.

But after five straight birdies from holes 7 to 11 and another on the 14th, things started to get weird at Kapalua.

Make it five straight 👀@JordanSpieth is just one back of the lead @TheSentry. https://t.co/hUMlwFwMpK pic.twitter.com/QkKXOtUzBb

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 7, 2024

Spieth’s tee shot on the par-5 15th landed in a divot. But the 2015 Masters winner shook that off and recorded another birdie – thanks to a two-putt from over 80 feet away – to close within one shot of leader Chris Kirk.

The Maui, Hawaii, course had more to dish out, however.

Spieth’s drive on the 16th caught the edge of a fairway bunker. His ball wound up buried in the lip. The Texan was forced to blast out sideways. The wasted stroke was costly, as he bogeyed the hole. 

He found yet another divot on the 17th but saved par.

Spieth said:

“The [divots} were certainly tough breaks because they were balls that hit in the fairway and funneled into it. Out here, balls funnel into the same spots a lot, it’s not uncommon to be in divots. It was kind of stunk that it was three holes in a row, but the plug is what cost me a full shot. I still played the others just fine.”

Spieth finished in third place, two shots behind Kirk. He’s decided to skip the Sony Open in Hawaii next week, where he had a roller coaster couple of days a year ago: After leading the field after the first 18 holes, his second round went so poorly that he missed the cut.

Spieth will play next in the Signature Event at Pebble Beach in a few weeks.

Cover Image via PGA Tour