10. Jordan Spieth returning to the scene of the crime
A phrase you’ll hear a lot this week is that the tournament doesn’t really start until the second nine on Sunday. The 2016 Masters looked like it would put that theory to bed but actually ended up proving it.
Spieth stood on the 10th tee with a five-shot lead. Even after he bogeyed 10 and 11, he stood on the 12th hole in complete control. Then, things got weird. Spieth put his tee shot in the water. After taking a drop, his third shot was closer to not even reaching the water than it was to clearing it. When it was all said and done, Spieth had to scramble for a quadruple-bogey seven. He fought back reasonably well after, but ended up out of the mix.
When it was all said and done, he was putting the Green Jacket on Willett’s shoulders instead of winning a second straight Masters.
Spieth has played in three Masters in his career. He finished tied for second in 2014 and 2016 and won in 2015. History says he’ll be a factor in the home stretch on Sunday.
Obviously, this is his first Masters since that collapse.
How will Spieth respond? How will he play Amen Corner? What will be going through his mind if he steps onto that 12th tee on Sunday with a one-shot lead? What kind of shot will he hit?
Spieth’s talent is unquestioned. The 2017 Masters will give us a good insight into his head and how well he can overcome a painful memory.