Success is relative. In the case of Jordan Spieth, that presents a problem. The Texan’s epic 2015 – two major titles, the FedEx Cup, the legitimate placing of No1 in the world – fuelled the suggestion of Spieth as a dominant figure in golf. Tiger Woods was the instant comparison.
Just as the scale of Woods’s brilliance becomes more evident with each passing major, the notion that others could readily match his achievements takes on proper context. Spieth, who lacks nothing in the level of demand towards himself, is admitting to a struggle with outside perception.
“It’s been tough, given I think it’s been a solid year and I think had last year not happened I’d be having a lot of positive questions,” Spieth said on Saturday at Royal Troon. “Instead most of the questions I get are comparing to last year and, therefore, negative because it’s not to the same standard. So that’s almost tough to then convince myself that you’re having a good year when nobody else really thinks that. Even if you guys think it is, the questions I get make me feel like it’s not.
“So I think that’s a bit unfair to me but don’t feel sorry for me. I’ll still be OK. But I would appreciate if people would look at the positives over comparing to maybe hopefully what would happen to me a few times in my career a year like last year. Or I would say a few times it’s happened less than a dozen times to anybody in golf ever in a year. So it seems a bit unfair at 22 to be expecting something like that all the time.”
Spieth signed for a Saturday 72 in Ayrshire, ensuring a 54-hole aggregate of plus five and that he has not broken par in his past 10 major championship rounds.
“I set the expectations high for myself but I feel like I’ve been getting a little more frustrated off the golf course than normal,” Spieth said. “My game feels like it’s rounding into shape though. Ball-striking has really let me down this year and I’ve been actually striking the ball better and better coming from the first round at [the last WGC event] Akron to the final round.
“This week I felt like I’ve hit the ball really, really well. And as good as my putting has been this year, which is pretty much the same standard as last year, it just wasn’t there this week. If it’s there this week and I’m on the right end of the draw, I’m hitting it well enough to be at or really near the lead.
“So although I’m so far behind, it’s very close, and I feel confident about getting back to kind of the basics at home and getting ready for the US PGA Championship. Obviously I’m trying to take momentum tomorrow but understanding that we’re going to be working towards PGA now.
“I’m very pleased with the way I’m striking the ball, especially in these conditions. I just can’t quite get it in the hole. I guess some weeks that happens.”
