At the 2016 Masters tournament the golfing world saw one of the most heartbreaking moments it had seen in a long time. Jordan Spieth, carrying a five-shot lead into the back nine of the final round on Sunday, the victim.
Disaster struck on the 12th hole when Spieth carded a quadruple bogey 7 on the par 3.
To anyone and everyone Spieth cruising home to his second Masters win looked like a done deal. And why wouldn’t we think that?
Spieth had won 4 tournaments including a US open in the span of one Masters tournament to another. The 23-year-old looked nothing but poised to deliver the final blow into the back 9.
However, like that baby faced, slightly naive, Jordan was about to experience as he stepped up to the tee on the 12th hole on that wretched day. Golf is hard.
Golf doesn’t care for momentum, in fact, golf is the killer of momentum. Personally, any personal wins I experience in life are often cut down by a poor performance on the golf course.
Put short, Spieth was Icarus and Augusta his sun. He flew too high and too close to said sun, and like the myth, he crashed into the earth below him.
What most would expect next would be a whirlwind of bad results utterly fueled by the demons that are sure to come with letting a major slip in the manner he did. Average golfers and analysts alike predicted a poor 2017 season for Jordan and rightfully so.
Heading into the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, there was only one clear favourite, Brooks Koepka. The then hotshot had just won his first major at the 2017 US Open and showed glimpses of a dominance that would later rattle the golf world.
The opening Thursday round opened to a burly typical links day. Conditions that would usually hinder the average golfer such as myself, but not these guys.
After the first round, Speith, Koepka and Matt Kucher all shared the lead at -5.
Friday at The Open brought a much more gloomy look to the championship letting the viewers experience something they don’t often get to see – professional players struggle.
A motto that is usually an omen of the US Open’s characteristically long rough and fast greens. This time the defender of par was not some artificial course setup, no, the elements came out to play on Friday blowing away most of the competition.
However, when the dust settled on the eve of the Friday night. One man was able to say they stood a stand in the coarse conditions. Spieth led at -6, shooting -1 in the rain and wind. Behind him lay Kucher on -4, followed by Koepka and Poulter on -3.
Saturday morning brought a calmer atmosphere to the links course, which allowed the players to stretch their legs a little for the first time in the tournament. No man better encapsulated the metaphor of stretching their legs than Jordan Spieth.
With all of the free space in front of him in first place, he charged forward at incredible speed compared to the rest of the field, posting a 65 to place him at -10 for the Championship. Once again, behind him lay Kucher on -8 and Koepka on -5.
Spieth’s win looked all but done and dusted. All the young man had to do was show his metal one last time. However, the journey that Spieth was about to take throughout the course of the final 18 holes was sure to solidify the Championship as one of the best editions.
On the calm Sunday afternoon, chaos lurked in the background. Striking it’s first blow to Spieth when he bogeyed holes 3 and 4, while Kuchar birdied the second hole.
A further bogey by Spieth on 10 followed by more Kuchar birdies wiped away his lead leaving the pair tied at -8.
The pair would continue this way for a number of holes providing the audience with a Matchplay style showdown to the finish line.
On the 13th hole Spieth famously sliced his tee shot so right that he missed the rough right of the fairway and ended up on the practice range. Human after all.
While Jordan spending over 20 minutes with the officials to find a playable lie from which he would drop from Kuchar waited patiently for him on the fairway having already put his ball on the green.
What would ensue over the next hour of golf confirmed Spieth’s alien golf ability.
Spieth brilliantly pumped a hybrid over a tour truck that couldn’t be moved, to the front green and salvaging bogey from a position other people would simply crumble under. Despite the fact he now for the first time in the tournament trailed the leader (Kuchar) by 1 shot, the bogey was a monumental win for his psyche.
Evidence of this is written in the 14th hole which he nearly aced, ultimately leaving him a tap in birdie, followed by the 48-foot eagle putt on 15 to bring him from 1 down to 1 ahead in a two-hole stretch.
With the coastal links wind now in Spieth’s sails, he didn’t turn back, finishing birdie-birdie-par to win the championship by 3 strokes.
Icarus reborn.
Spieth played the last 5 holes in 5 under par showcasing one the strongest displays of golf in recent major history and ultimately putting to bed any doubts there were about the young man’s mental fortitude after his Masters woes.
Spieth joined Jack Nicklaus as the second player to win three different majors before turning 24.
Next time you have the yips, play a bad round or maybe even haven’t hit a ball clean in months. When every single swing thought you have makes you want to simply give up the game of golf.
Remember Jordan, remember his Masters meltdown, remember his grit, his determination, and above all else, remember that recovery shot on the 13th hole at Royal Birkdale.
The shot that won him the 146th Open Championship.
Written by
E.J. Ganaza
7/7/25
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