x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Jordan Spieth already delivered one of the best performances of the week
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

Jordan Spieth already delivered one of the best performances of the week

By: Zephyr Melton
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
May 18, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
jordan spieth talks

Jordan Spieth spoke on a variety of subjects ahead of the PGA Championship, including his chances of completing the career Grand Slam.

Getty Images

TULSA, Okla. — Much like watching Jordan Spieth play golf, listening to him speak is like riding a roller coaster.

One moment, he’s talking about winning the career Grand Slam. The next, he’s delving into being uncomfortable over the ball on short putts. There are peaks and valleys from one question to the next. It’s never boring.

Wednesday at Southern Hills was much of the same. Spieth spoke to reporters for just short of half an hour in the midst of his major prep, and he provided plenty of insights. Below, we unpack several of the juiciest bits.

1. Any NBA playoff predictions?

Before getting too deep into the golf, Spieth spoke on his predictions for the Western Conference Finals. As a Dallas native, he’s a a huge Mavericks fan — and life is good for his squad at the moment. After dismantling the Phoenix Suns in last weekend’s Game 7, they’s set to play for Golden State Warriors for a trip to the NBA finals.

“If we can steal one in Golden State, I think we’ve got a chance,” Spieth said.

But while he’s an avid Mavs fan, he doesn’t think he’ll be able to tune in to Game 1 this evening. The reason? A late west-coast start coupled with an early Thursday-morning tee time means watching the entirety of the game is untenable for his optimal sleep schedule.

“I may not even start watching it tonight because it’s hard for me to watch it and not watch the whole thing,” he said. “I get too invested in it.”

He didn’t mention if he planned on recording the game and watching later, but as a courtesy, no spoilers from the galleries tomorrow, please.

2. Any thoughts on your mega-group?

Southern Hills might feel a bit empty tomorrow morning. That is, if you’re not following the star-studded group of Spieth, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The PGA Championship’s marquee group is sure to command a majority of the eyeballs on the course when they tee it up at 8:11 a.m., and other groupings will be graced with relative solitude.

Playing with Woods can be a bit of a challenge with the circus his presence creates outside the ropes, but Spieth explained he’s not bothered by the massive crowds.

“Sometimes when the crowds get big enough, it’s kind of just a color blur in a way,” he said. “When you’re used to being in front of big crowds by contending on the weekend, that’s normally when the biggest crowds are there, it starts to feel just a little more and more comfortable.”

Spoken like a true pro.

3. How’s the grass out there?

Agronomy nerds rejoice — Spieth went deep on the grass at Southern Hills.

With Bermuda grass is in play throughout the course, grain comes into play on a variety of shots. But as a born-and-bred Texan, that doesn’t bother Spieth much.

“I think I’m fortunate in that I grew up on this really grainy Bermuda and grainy Bermuda run-offs,” he said.

That experience will pay off this week when Spieth finds himself on a grainy lie around the greens. With ample experience on the grass, he has the tools to play some shots that others might not trust themselves to hit.

“Bank shots are really hard on this Bermudagrass because it can just snag it so quickly, and it’s hard to committing to hitting it so firmly into the hills,” he said. “But I think you might have to do that quite a bit this week.”

If agronomy is your thing, check out the entire transcript. Never before has someone made grass seem so interesting.

4. What’s with the funky swing rehearsal?

Those who’ve watched Spieth play over the past couple years have likely noticed it, but for the uninitiated, check out the video below.

Jordan Spieth’s pre-shot rehearsal looks a little odd, but it’s done with a distinct purpose.

“I’m just trying to shallow the club transitionally. I’m trying to get it steep enough to where I can shallow it on plane.” pic.twitter.com/8vqOBw6NFO

— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) February 17, 2022

The move looks awkward and uncomfortable and, frankly, unbecoming of a pro golfer. But when Spieth doesn’t rehearse the move, his swing just isn’t right.

“I try it without it, and Cameron tells me — and it feels, not just he tells me — but it also feels just slightly better when I do it before I hit a shot on the range,” Spieth said. “If I’m making better swings doing it, I get to my ball quickly, I play faster than I used to, I’m not slowing anybody down, and I make better, more committed swings with it.”

Hey, whatever works, right?

5. What happened at the Masters?

Spieth missed the cut at Augusta National this year, a stunner given how good that place has been to him. What happened? Bad luck, Spieth said.

“It was annoying,” he said. “Because Friday’s round, I shot 76, and I can’t tell you that I missed a golf shot. It was bizarre. You know, tough — we had tough conditions. I had mud balls at bad times, wind gusts at bad times. I felt like it was random, and therefore, it was really frustrating. Because all you had to do that week was kind of make the cut, and then you could have made a run on Saturday when it was cold.

“I just really didn’t feel like I did much wrong, and I’ve had weeks like that before. You just hope that they’re not the Masters.”

Or, for that matter, the PGA Championship.

6. How important is the Grand Slam?

Pretty damn important.

All Spieth lacks in his quest to become the sixth men’s golf Grand Slam winner is the Wanamaker Trophy, and it’s a prize he desperately wants to get his hands on.

“If you just told me I was going to win one tournament the rest of my life, I’d say I want to win this one, given where things are at,” he said. “Long term it would be really cool to say that you captured the four biggest golf tournaments in the world that are played in different parts of the world and different styles, too. So you feel like you kind of accomplished golf when you win a Career Grand Slam.”

Latest In News

2 hours ago

‘Is he still in the bunker?’ Phil Mickelson collapses at PGA Championship 

2 hours ago

PGA Tour wives' 'bougie' shopping spree, and Blockie's back! | Rogers Report

3 hours ago

Max Homa was ‘so broken’, but now a more serious question looms

3 hours ago

‘F*** this place’: Shane Lowry rages after brutal break at PGA Championship

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Phil Mickelson

‘Is he still in the bunker?’ Phil Mickelson collapses at PGA Championship 

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Max Homa

Max Homa was ‘so broken’, but now a more serious question looms

By: Sean Zak
News
shane lowry raging at pga championship

‘F*** this place’: Shane Lowry rages after brutal break at PGA Championship

By: Alan Bastable
News
Michael Block points down the 10th fairway during the second round of the 2025 PGA Championship.

Michael Block, still basking in PGA spotlight, bows out at Quail Hollow

By: Josh Schrock
Gear
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott hold their green Trackmans.

Rory McIlroy just got golf's most exclusive launch monitor. Here's the backstory

By: Jack Hirsh
Irons
Bryson Dechambeau's irons in a bag

A 230-yard 7-iron?! Bryson DeChambeau's irons, explained

By: Johnny Wunder
Travel
Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club in north carolina

Charlotte golf guide: 5 top public spots around the PGA host city

By: Josh Sens
News
A 2025 PGA Championship flag on the 18th hole at Quail Hollow.

2025 PGA Championship Saturday tee times: Round 3 pairings

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler tee off at 1:47 p.m. Friday.

PGA cut line LIVE updates: Spieth out? Rory in? Surprises, blow-ups, more

By: Dylan Dethier
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version