Spieth and The Ghosts of Golf

Well just last week every golf writer and every TV golf talking head on the planet was ready to pass the crown of greatest golfer in the universe to 20-year-old Jordon Spieth. Then just as at Augusta almost a month earlier the young man ran into a brick wall Sunday at TPC. The wall is made up of not brick or steel but in fact constructed of the ghosts of golf championships past.

I’m not sure if there is a golf writer on the planet (again TV talking heads included) who actually understands, I mean truly understands, how hard it actually is to win on the world stage as a professional golfer. It’s hard at The LA Open, at The Honda! Hell it’s insane crazy hard at a major (and yes I consider The Players Championship a major!).

Jordan Spieth is a stud. He is mature beyond his years. He has the touch of a heart surgeon, the heart of a lion, and his golf IQ is off the charts. However he is still 20. Yes these great young players today show up with tons of national junior experience – gobs of collegiate and often even international experience. It however is not the same as the grandest stage in golf. The PGA Tour is the grand daddy of golf. We have even seen great professional international professionals who dominate overseas come here only to be just another face in the crowd.

There is no substitute for being there. Spieth will win his share. Will he be the next Tiger? No – he will be Jordan Spieth. He will set his own standard. He will leave his own mark. I think it is silly to crown, or for that matter expect or predict what this young man will do next. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the show. Again I’m not exactly sure how many of us really understand what exactly we were watching between 2001 – 2003 when Tiger was Tiger and he absolutely turned golf upside down! That standard he set during that run may never be touched….

jordan-spieth-under-armour Spieth has played two wonderful tournaments. His play at Augusta and TPC was outstanding. As a 20- year-old he excited each of us who follow golf and in the process endeared himself to many of us. Let’s however keep in mind he closed neither deal. He may in the future, he may not…..