It isn't just an injury battle that endorses just how special Tiger Woods was in his prime – competitive absence makes the narrative grow stronger, after all – but the scale of focus on others looking to even approach the 14-times major winner's achievements. Woods was a phenomenon; not only in respect of a level of success but in terms of a ferocious competitive spirit that, at times, literally could not be batted down. Modern-day comparisons make little sense.
This week in Austin, the city where he briefly attended college, Jordan Spieth is seeking to garner momentum in the buildup to his Masters defence. In doing so, Spieth would only naturally revel in the hushing of a few dissenting voices.
Anyone who believes such momentum is not significant in the context of this outstanding 22-year-old need only glance back towards the bounce, bounce, bounce format that represented his 2015. He rode the crest of a golfing wave for almost an entire season.
When Spieth won again, in Hawaii in mid-January, the expectation rose that another epic spell was on the horizon. Instead, the Texan’s year has moderately stalled; he has not recorded a finish better than tied 17th in four subsequent events. During that spell, only five from 14 rounds have been sub-70.
To the high amusement of some, including Rory McIlroy, this constitutes some form of crisis. It certainly hasn't been for this sport in general; Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Jason Day and Charl Schwartzel, all but one (Day) former Masters champions, have lifted trophies. The appeal of Augusta National thereby intensified, owing simply to the depth of talent seeking to take Spieth's crown.
Spieth has been subjected to the level of analysis befitting one of which such routine brilliance is expected. The man himself has a reply. Spieth explained: “Around major championships – I just need to take that model into the rest of the PGA Tour golf now – which is just stay away from kind of all the outside influences, whether it’s TV, where you see yourself or it’s social media, whatever it may be, just do less of it and find something else to do, whether it’s reading or whether it’s discovering a new place, going out in your car that week, instead of just sitting around.
“Because then you’re tempted. It’s something certainly to work on but it’s nothing that’s different.”
Everyone has an opinion; Day going so far as to claim he was “worried” by the opening to Spieth’s year. Day’s compatriot, Scott, has been considerably more circumspect. “We’re sitting two weeks out from the Masters and a lot can change in two weeks for the good or the worse but we’re dealing with a guy like Jordan who knows how to prepare and to peak at these events. So if he’s not where he wants to be – and I don’t know that – I’m sure he can be by the time Augusta comes around.”
The PGA Tour’s media team earned a social media telling-off after producing a headline that Spieth did not fancy, with the reigning Masters and US Open champion going even further in taking on an Instagram poster who suggested this golfer was nothing other than an occasionally wonderful putter. Aside from the fact Spieth is perfectly entitled to defend himself, the latter point is ridiculous in the first place; any player has to first afford themselves chances to be converted.
However, if Spieth was properly irked, this provides tacit admission of a susceptibility that has not been in evidence before. There has to be a psychological adjustment, from golfing hero to global sporting aristocracy. Spieth would be unnatural if he did not find himself in the midst of a battle, to whatever extent, with that changing of status.
Perhaps Day was indulging in some sport of his own. Golfing whispers suggested Spieth wasn't entirely enamoured by the Australian's comments. If true, Day at least responded to aggravation by producing his own return to form in winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And let's be blunt; any form of needle at the summit of golf would be welcomed by onlookers.
Here is the crucial point, though; Spieth has proven himself as the most formidable competitor in world golf. His mental approach is beyond question. Any external whispers regarding alleged shortcomings will be matched – and tenfold – by Spieth’s desire to catapult himself back into the winner’s circle. And he will do, the only query being one of when.
A relative lull was probably inevitable. That it arrived in a time of the season that few top players would regard as crucial is maybe a further endorsement of Spieth’s impeccable timing.
Through the winter, he embarked on a global run that – financial benefits notwithstanding – displayed a willingness to break out from a PGA Tour comfort zone. Spieth, like Rickie Fowler but in contrast to so many others, relishes a chance to compete in new environments. One consequence was fatigue; Spieth was grateful for the experience but admitted he would not repeat it in future years.
“I have no regrets at all,” Spieth said. “I had a great time. I saw some really cool places. Abu Dhabi was a spectacular place. Singapore was a really cool city. Those are really, really neat places to see.
“And then I came back into hectic Tour schedule. I competed in two events, had a chance to win them. I mean, it was certainly abnormal for after the new year. A lot of times guys take the opportunities in the fall but it seemed like an appropriate two-week stretch for me – and I really do have good memories from it.”
This week, Spieth is on familiar Texan ground for the WGC-Match Play Championship. Course conditions, and severe breeze, play into his favour. In the following week, Spieth will once again be on well-known ground at the Shell Houston Open. A brisk return to form, then, would be no shock.
If it isn’t forthcoming, not only is that hardly problematic for golf; it isn’t representative at all of what status Spieth will reach during the next 20 years. The trick for the man himself lies in perfectly comprehending that; Spieth should know by now on which platform his talking is best done.
(Guardian service)
