Jordan Spieth Experiences What It’s Like to Be the Worst Player in the Foursome (Welcome to Our World!) and Takes a Subtle Dig at Michael Greller
Jordan Spieth experienced something he wasn’t used to – he was the worst person in the foursome.
It wasn’t golf — that would be nearly impossible for the three-time major winner and former world No. 1 — but doubles with partner Scottie Scheffler at the Celebrity Battle of the Paddle in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday. PGA stars square off against former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and John Isner, one of America’s top tennis players, during the Professional Pickleball Association’s PPA Tour Round-Up.
Jordan Spieth is very comfortable in front of a crowd
“It was a really weird feeling in front of a big crowd of people who knew you were the worst on the court, and I didn’t like that at all,” Spieth said, noting that Scheffler plays pickleball, a combination of tennis, Ping-Pong and badminton almost every day and played less than 10 times. I am very comfortable in front of a crowd because I know I am well-trained and I know what I am going to do. But I wouldn’t say that I’m bad, but when you’re the worst of those who will be there, and there are like 500 people, you’re such a stinker, I really don’t like this.
Just in case he didn’t explain, Spieth shared a conversation he had with caddy Michael Greller and how to subtly scrutinize his caddy’s golf skills.
“So I asked Michael, what’s it like when you shoot 17 at Sawgrass or 16 in Phoenix? I’m like, does it feel like this? He says, ‘Yeah.’ He says, ‘That’s why I either hit it really close or I miss the green.’”
Good news for Jordon Spieth
The good news is that Spieth’s golf game is trending in the right direction as he prepares for his season debut at the CJ Cup in South Carolina at Congaree Golf Club. The last time he competed, Spieth went a perfect 5-0 in leading Team USA to victory in the Presidents Cup, including his first singles victory in either the Presidents Cup or the Ryder Cup. (He was a combined 0-6-1 before that.) Spieth, who won an hour’s drive away at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island in April and entered the week ranked 13th in the world, said he found more joy in the real work involved in improving than in the past while admitting that more work needs to be done to achieve this lofty goal for his carrier
Ball striking is a little inconsistent.
“I had some inconsistencies this year. Sorry, that was last season. I didn’t have a great putting season by any means, but I also felt that the ball striking was a little more inconsistent than the year before, and I knew why I just needed a few weeks at home to figure it out. I got to work right after East Lake and really tried to score a lot in the Pre-Presidents Cup,” he explained. “Then, a week ago, I really started to have a bit of a flap.
He continued: “I’ really enjoyed the process over the last few years, and I have really enjoyed the job more than ever. I enjoy my day job more now, getting to a place of freedom, getting to the feelings of where I’m at, man, I get there and then stick it. the whole day. It’s the kind of excitement I find on the floor that’s part of the job, and that’s probably the biggest difference I see from my rookie year to when I’ve been struggling recently. I appreciate the work and I try to maximize the time that I have when I’m working I enjoy the process more than I would say the end result of winning a tournament or winning matches.”
Spieth said he plans to play a limited schedule this fall — he has committed to the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship, both unofficial events in December — and decided to play the CJ Cup to try to jump-start his 2022-23 season.
I have a good result here because I think that’s probably the only FedEx Cup event I can play this fall.”