Jordan Spieth Needs to Find His Original McDonald’s Again

Thanks to Roku, and now Netflix, the 2016 John Lee Hancock directed biopic about how Ray Kroc took a California burger stand and built the restaurant chain we know as McDonald’s has been on repeat in my house. Michael Keaton’s almost Xerox-like depiction of the hamburger hustler was not only a lesson in building a business but also a mirror into how going far afield from the original concept can change its trajectory.

And yes, I was watching this film just an hour ago and thought holy crap, Jordan Spieth has gone McDonald’s.

What made McDonald’s into a national and international success was the innovation of the complex yet simplistic Speedee System. The kitchens of their 1950’s and 1960’s establishments were a burger ballet of many movements spun simultaneously to get from ordering to counter in an average of 30-seconds.

And why was it so damn fast? Because McDonald’s focused on just four menu items: hamburgers, french fries, soda, and milkshakes. Ask for a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke and in half a minute you’re eating a well produced meal for 39 cents. No drive thrus or dining rooms or Playlands, you walked up, ordered, and walked off to eat wherever you could.

Jordan Spieth was the same way when he left college in 2012 to become a PGA Tour pro at the age of 19. Just two weeks before turning 20, the just months out from being a University of Texas student-athlete notched his first TOUR win on his Under Armour belt at the John Deere after a dramatic bunker hole out sent him into a three-way playoff for the title. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jordan Spieth (@jordanspieth) on Jun 2, 2014 at 10:34am PDT

A couple more impressive TOUR finishes and wins set Jordan up quickly to score a Masters and US Open title in 2015, followed by the Tour Championship in the same year. Two years later Jordan crossed the pond and took home the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.

So what’s happened in the last 40 years? McD’s pulled a Jordan Spieth and went away from its core talents. Chicken varieties, breakfast, dozens of value meals, DQ Blizzard knock offs, and more were added, and the former half-minute wait time shifted to what we now know as the norm today. 

And what’s happened to Jordan Spieth? Jordan has pulled a McDonald’s. He’s completely in his head and has all the confidence of a 6th grade wallflower trying to score a dance with that popular 8th grader (well, back when we could have dances…thanks, COVID-19). What was once a symphonic simplicity and clean delivery on his strokes like the former Speedee System, Spieth looks like he’s frequently blocking, pushing, and just all out of his rhythm.

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Hell, Jordan’s even trying to chase distance. Seriously? Spieth chasing distance?

Jordan isn’t losing because he’s not hitting Bryson bombs or Dustin darts. Jordan lost his mojo because he’s not being Jordan. He’s trying to be every other golfer and he’s stretched his talent beyond its core.

McDonald’s isn’t losing because the Whopper is better or the Baconator cut their share. McDonald’s isn’t doing what made McDonald’s. They’re doing too many things with menus that rival a small diner. McD’s is still tasty but I miss the 1970’s.

Alright. I’ll admit. I’m a sucker for McNuggets. I can’t resist. Always will be a fan. They can stay.

What does Jordan Spieth need to do to get back to 2017? He needs to remember his original mix of ingredients and menu items that made his simple yet smart game so dominant. It might cost him a little time to find this center again, but time and quality practice being himself will make all the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by SpiethTracker (@spieth.tracker) on Sep 18, 2020 at 8:21pm PDT

Call me when Jordan Spieth realizes the system in him once again. Otherwise, we’re most likely looking at one of the biggest talent flame outs in the modern era of the PGA Tour.