SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Midway through the final round of the WM Phoenix Open, Jordan Spieth walked off the 11th green with a smile as wide as his home state of Texas.
He had just made an all-world four, saving par on one of the most challenging holes at TPC Scottsdale. Spieth sailed his drive well right of the fairway, and his ball settled beneath a bush in the desert. An unplayable lie quickly became possible, but Spieth did not want to take a drop because that would leave him no better options. So he and his caddy, Michael Greller, faced a perilous decision. Should Spieth try to hit a 3-wood from there and advance the ball as far as he could on the ground? Or would a 3-hybrid suffice? What about his putter?
They ultimately decided on the flat stick, and Spieth flipped it around and hit it backward. His ball rolled about 35 yards forward, barely avoiding another shrub before coming to rest not far from the cart path. He now had an opening into the green, with 123 yards left for his third shot. Spieth then stuck it to 13 feet and drained the side-winder for par.
It was vintage Jordan Spieth, who has a knack for saving par in the most ridiculous circumstances. Many have compared his ability to recover to that of the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
Spieth made another classic par save on the 18th hole to end his third round on Saturday, keeping his bogey-free day intact. He has played tremendous golf all week, an impressive display considering this event marks only his second competitive start since August, when he had wrist surgery.
Spieth then entered the final round sitting in a tie for second, at 13-under for the championship, and five strokes back of Thomas Detry, who is vying for his first PGA Tour title.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
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#Jordan #Spieths #improbable #par #save #Phoenix #Open #proves #hes
