Are we under-estimating Spieth's "A" game?

When analysts are asked about this current youth movement they will typically say that DJ, Rory, or Jason Day has the best "A" game. Seems like they may be under-selling Jordan a bit. When this guy is on he pretty much destroys the field:

2014 Australian Open - final round 63 to win by 6 shots

2014 Hero World Challenge - finished -26 to win by 10 shots

2015 Masters - sets or ties 36, 54, and 72 hole scoring records

2015 Tour Championship - wins by 4 shots

2016 Hyundai - finished -30 for an 8 shot victory

2017 Pebble Beach - leading by 6 going into final round, wins by 4

Super solid all around game and ridiculous mid-range putter. I just don't find his game "aw-inspiring" , and perhaps he is not all that like-able a guy. Sort of the silver-spoon brat.

Underestimating Spieth's game is like underestimating Steph Curry's game.

If he is on for 4 days, very difficult to beat, only a handful could hang, not a big fan, but realistic.

I would love to see him and Rory have a toe to toe like Phil and Stenson did at The Open.

Uh ... yeah.

...and perhaps he is not all that like-able a guy. Sort of the silver-spoon brat.

Where do people come up with this stuff? He seems to be well liked by his contemporaries and has a good relationship with the media. I think all of his talking to his ball and other quirks just show a passion for the game.

I think so ... if hes on he just slips in and runs away.... your dead before you know its a fight

...and perhaps he is not all that like-able a guy. Sort of the silver-spoon brat.

 

Where do people come up with this stuff? He seems to be well liked by his contemporaries and has a good relationship with the media. I think all of his talking to his ball and other quirks just show a passion for the game.

..see what I did there

Yeah, people usually associate shorter hitters with better short games as being grinders, while long, accurate hitters/average short games as having more firepower and the best 'A' games.

But let's take Spieth and McIlroy for example, Rory is more likely to overpower a course but if Spieth's on his 'A' game then he's making 2-3 30 footers a round, then it doesn't matter if McIlroy hits prettier shots into the green and then misses 8-footers.

If he is on for 4 days, very difficult to beat, only a handful could hang, not a big fan, but realistic.

 

I would love to see him and Rory have a toe to toe like Phil and Stenson did at The Open.

These two battling at the Masters could be legendary.

I personally don't think anyone current is on the same level as Rory when he is on his game. While not close, Rory's A game is Tiger like. Just obviously not as consistent or often haha, but he has won some pretty impressive tournaments with some blow outs. I just wish he could find that level more often.

Spieths A game is fantastic though. I just don't think he would beat Rory if both of them were playing their best. Funny thing is there is no way to tell

His game is as good as it gets. But it's his drive, ability to concentrate/deal with pressure, poise, that make him very consistent and a great closer. Well, except that one time....

I've said this before and even earlier today in another thread... it's easy to forget how good a guy like Jordan is because he doesn't have the firepower that DJ, Day, or Rory have. Don't get me wrong, he's not a short hitter of the ball, but he's certainly at his best when he's playing his game. I think he got a bit off track when he went on a quest for more distance off the tee. In all fairness to Jordan, when he made that decision he was coming off a spectacular season and that was the one thing he could look to improve. But, by all accounts he doesn't really need that distance to excel.

If he is on for 4 days, very difficult to beat, only a handful could hang, not a big fan, but realistic.

 

I would love to see him and Rory have a toe to toe like Phil and Stenson did at The Open.

These two battling at the Masters could be legendary.

I know this is a Spieth thread...

Legendary would be Reed and Rory tied on the first tee box on Sunday in Augusta... Both playing well.

Break out the popcorn.

Golf is still a wedge-and-putter game at its core. You dont win or score well without them, no matter what course you play. Jordan Spieth is the only example you need to see that. He now has nearly as many professional wins and DJ and Day do.

Sure, the big hitters get the advantage with a few extra yards off the tee, but the fact remains is that if you putt well and are solid with a wedge in your hand, you will always be more competitive than just the guys who bomb off the tee. Day's most recent run was due quite a bit to a magical run with the putter. DJ's power gets him in the hunt at every tournament, but he's not a factor to win without putting well, because is a mediocre wedge player.

Its hard to make general analysis or projections about any of these younger guys because they are so inconsistently great. None of them are week in week out dominant and all go through long dry spells but when "on" they are brilliant.

I think we're potentially underestimating Spieth's A game.

I know we're totally overestimating comparing top player's A games. These guys get in the zone and play pretty much mistake free golf about 3 or 4 times a year. I would say anybody right now currently in the top 10 (plus a few select others) would win any tourney in which they play their A game because its sooooo rare for multiple golfer's to get there at the same time. We were blessed with a huge treat last Open Championship where we saw both Phil and Henrik on their A game in a major. How often do we really see that? 2014 PGA had that "a little bit".

It is a gigantic treat for golf fans that we have this depth of golfer that when hot, is as exciting and dominating as Tiger and Phil were through the late 90s and 2000s. It provides us more opportunities to see great golf played in different ways.

Yes, the average fan underestimates him because of the silly putting narrative that we hear week in and week out. He is not great because of his ability make 1 more 20 footer than everyone else. He's great because his approach game has historically been very good. 2016 was an aberration.

This current crop of many "good" players who are occasionally "great" will be interesting to hardcore niche golf fans but I dont see it appealing to the masses and the general sports fan. I see golf retreating back into a niche sport as it was pre Tiger

Spieth reminds me a little of Tom Brady.

Doesn't look like much at first, then you blink and realize you are way behind.

Anyone who underestimates Spieth are scums.

Anyone who underestimates Spieth are scums.

Spieth's A-game isn't as flashy as the super long hitters like Rory, DJ, Day, etc. His A-game is ridiculous accuracy with every club in his hand. He is a FIR, GIR, 1-putt machine when he's on a roll.

People generally equate talent with obvious physical traits like power/speed. Same in most sports. Of course they are generally wrong.

...and perhaps he is not all that like-able a guy. Sort of the silver-spoon brat.

 

Where do people come up with this stuff? He seems to be well liked by his contemporaries and has a good relationship with the media. I think all of his talking to his ball and other quirks just show a passion for the game.

Agreed. A "not likeable brat" ?? Wow. Where does that come from? I just can't relate to that at all.

He's very deliberate and very "coached" with his responses to the media, but he's worked on that since he was a teenager.

Spieth reminds me a little of Tom Brady.

 

Doesn't look like much at first, then you blink and realize you are way behind.

Hmmm, can Jordan rally? He's fantastic when in the lead after 54 holes, but has he chased down a leader in the final round when trailing by a large margin?

I really don't think we have seen his best 'A' game yet. He's still working on a few things and getting his confidence level back into the level he wants it to be. It's amazing to ponder what he'll play like when he gets to the mental game he was at when he played in the majors in 2015. Add that to his much improved ball striking and when he gets on with the flat stick. He puts all of that together and I think he will do so many more special things. The single season grand slam may be a pipe dream but if anyone in the current cream of the crop will do it, it will be Jordan. He has the "it" factor. We've seen glimpses but he's still a developing young player. He's going to get better. He's going to gain more and more confidence. He's had a few stumbles and one big one but they've helped him make certain realizations. He can't be perfect. He needed some adversity and he's going to be better for it. Arnie, Jack, Bobby, Hogan, Tiger, Phil and all of the greats went through adversity and they were better for it.

I really think that we haven't seen the best yet and when it finally manifests and becomes a reality the world will really take notice.

Spieth reminds me a little of Tom Brady.

 

Doesn't look like much at first, then you blink and realize you are way behind.

 

Hmmm, can Jordan rally? He's fantastic when in the lead after 54 holes, but has he chased down a leader in the final round when trailing by a large margin?

No question he's underrated. He plays a relatively boring and controlled game. I think his A game is the best there is right now.

When analysts are asked about this current youth movement they will typically say that DJ, Rory, or Jason Day has the best "A" game.

It's true what they say. Chicks dig the long ball.