What else would you name what occurred to Jordan Spieth on Monday at the British Open? It’s harsh, and unsightly to consider, however tied for the lead going into the second-to-last gap of the event, Jordan slipped backwards.
He discovered himself a few moments later in the interview room, one shot out of a playoff for the 2015 British Open title.
Spieth has confirmed himself the greatest golfer on the planet this year, and in making a run for a third-consecutive main this week, has additional proven that he’ll someday be remembered as one of the recreation’s best-ever. It doesn’t matter that he’s solely 21. His play has earned him that recognition, however being adorned with that sort of reward comes with a totally different set of circumstances.
So when a participant like Spieth stands on the 17th tee tied for the lead at the British Open, even whether it is the hardest gap on the course, we don’t anticipate a bogey. With a wedge in his arms on the remaining gap one shot out of a playoff, we anticipate Spieth to no less than give himself a probability at a birdie, to not miss the inexperienced. When he’s one shot out of the lead, we’d like greater than a 4 putt.
It doesn’t matter that we don’t ask that of different gamers. Fans decide gamers relative to their very own expertise. This is the baseline Spieth has set for us, and on Monday, he did not reside as much as the personal requirements that he has brazenly embraced.
Asking Spieth — or anybody, for that matter — to win three straight-majors earlier than they start is just asking an excessive amount of. But whenever you’re in the stretch and historical past is observing you in the face, an immense participant like Spieth is predicted to be there till the final second.
That wasn’t the case this time as a result of, for first time all week, the enormity of the state of affairs crushed down on him. To name this nothing greater than a “good run” can be doing the man a disservice.
This week, Jordan Spieth buckled under pressure. He had his shot at historical past, however when it mattered most, he let it slip away.