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

[doublepar93]

People say his game is boring because he makes it look easy. Watching a player hit fairways and greens all day can get old from the couch. That said, his A game is absolutely underrated. I think he's still got more in the bag that we haven't seen. He's only going to get better.

[EnnDub7]

I definitely think his A game is underrated and under appreciated.

When he's on he's really on and is very difficult to beat. Sure he's not the most exciting but he doesn't have to be. He just has to win. Which he's done and I think he''ll do a heck of a lot more of.

As for being a brat. Couldn't be further from it, off the course he comes across so well, an absolute gent and in many regards a real throwback. I'll definitely hold him up as an example for my son in years to come.

[farmer]

...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.

Alternate Facts.

[chris975d]

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.

 

I have to agree with this. Speith, while apparently polarizing, is by far my favorite of the young guys at the top of the game right now. I just see a competitive drive and fire in him that's not present in the others. Day seems like a diva to me, Rory doesn't see to have any passion for the game and no competitive drive. If he blows out a field one or two times a year, he's great, otherwise he just seems like he hates to be there. I like watching Jordan play. His control and putting are incredible, and is still where most all tournaments are decided. I don't foresee him having "power hitters" back issues as he ages and he should have a long and successful career.

[Disco Dave]

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.

 

I don't foresee him having "power hitters" back issues as he ages and he should have a long and successful career.

 

Completely agree with this. Day and Rory have both shown to have serious health issues. I'm not sure that Jordan has. His swing definitely is less strenuous and appears built better than theirs to last.

[cardoustie]

Spieth has a great A game. How won the event with his Saturday putting on the back 9

 

Reasons why I and others (I am guessing) don't love the guy ..

 

- power game not up to snuff with other top guys. Everyone loves the LONG ball, not just chicks

- slightly funky swing

- the whole "we" thing

- the on course narrative

- on course cry baby / whiner / complainer / "can you believe that" at times

- the highly coached interviews and answering style

 

That's it. I respect him and his game. Like Tiger, for me FWIW, not my cup of tea as a sports fan

[bscinstnct]

Spieth is like Faldo,

 

 

[Disco Dave]

Spieth has a great A game. How won the event with his Saturday putting on the back 9

 

Reasons why I and others (I am guessing) don't love the guy ..

 

- power game not up to snuff with other top guys. Everyone loves the LONG ball, not just chicks

- slightly funky swing

- the whole "we" thing

 

 

-Loving the long ball and thinking Jordan has a better A game than DJ, Day and Rory are not mutually exclusive

-slightly funky? wha?

-What's wrong with acknowledging that you have a whole team of people supporting you? I think it's cool to show public support for the supporting staff. It's like a running back crediting his offensive line for a great performance.

[jmplautz]

Spieth's A game is like Tiger's A game from the early 2000's. First round, -4. Second round, -4. Third round, -4. Forth round, -4. Their consistency and putting put them in such a big advantage after Saturday that the other players knew they had to go low on Sunday to have a chance. Guys would then blow up trying to put up a low number. On the rare occasion they get caught.

 

In the end Spieth probably doesn't have the distance to get to the teens in majors, but he certainly has enough to get a record number of regular PGA tournament wins.

[bladehunter]

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?

 

Well he damn near ran Willet down to still win the masters last year after imploding. And besides. You don't need to chase anyone down when your leading by a touchdown at the 54 hole mark.

[bladehunter]

Spieth is like Faldo,

 

 

 

Nah. Not nearly as annoying as Faldo. Faldo is the Darell l waltrip of golf. Don't know him. Google it. You won't listen long. I don't hate either. I respect Both in their accomplishment in each sport. But dang they are both hard to listen to.

[Other Barry]

Speith's game, to me, is death by a thousand cuts. It's not a run of a few holes strung together, it's rounds piled up without major mistakes. And when he drains that 30 footer, it's the death blow.

[doublepar93]

Speith's game, to me, is death by a thousand cuts. It's not a run of a few holes strung together, it's rounds piled up without major mistakes. And when he drains that 30 footer, it's the death blow.

That is absolutely it. He's super consistent, then nails the coffin shut with a dang near impossible looking shot.

[Forged4ever]

I called this back when I first got on the board and there was a Jordan thread and all the many swing gurus, mental game mensas and golf experts were chirping about this that and the other--

 

I proceeded to post what I have whenever this question has arisen again(and again and again and again and....??)-

 

Nathan Smith told me a year before that having Played on the 3 Walker Cups(2 at the time) and aside from being Jordan's roomie and Mentor, and I've spoken of him ..... slappin the two Bama Bois all over the course in 3 practice matches(the one that was ranked #1 in the nation, the other was #3, wanted a rematch...Jordan, being the Gentleman that he is, obliged him?), Jordan was one of the two finest Players that he had played with on those teams. Today, he still says the same thing as they Played together on the '11 team as Nathan would also Play on the '13 Team.

 

Jordan was the youngest Player on that team and Nathan said that one, he was also the maturest Player on that team golf wise and secondly, he has THE finest mental game that he has seen in his basically decade of Playing with the finest Ams in this country, to this day.

 

He didn't get into his swing because if any of ya have ever seen Nathan's swing, it ain't textbook, lol

 

It's consistent and reproducible under pressure-

 

Just like Jordan's-

 

Nathan said and I posted that barring injury, he thought that Jordan would get "at least" 4-5 Majors.

 

Soooooo, in answer to you question, no, I have never underestimated ANY game of Jordan's, lol

 

He's a Stud, a Champion and the Real Deal-

 

I understand that that pisses some off though it doesn't change the reality, lol

 

Get used to it?

 

All the Best,

RP

[Cool Hand Luke]

Forget A game. Speith and Rory are the only two current players, IMO, who could potentially win a major with less than their A game. If Speith can shed the choir boy antics and develop a bit more killer instinct then I see him rising to the top of the game for the next decade. I think him calling out the autograph issues was a good step... shows he's not afraid to piss some people off. I'm buying Speith stock right now.

[bruinsPATSirish]

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

 

You are correct in that observation.

 

I really like the comparisons to Tom Brady & Steph Curry by previous posters. It really does make sense.

 

Line them up and they look like average athletes, but this isn't the "NFL Combine"... A winner is a winner.

[Santiago Golf]

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.

 

Reed hasn't ever been in threat in majors.

 

 

No Spieth and Rory head to head on Sunday in the last group with no one else in the picture would be great to watch. Mainly because those two have never gone at it on a Sunday. They have a couple rounds together though never together in contention on Sunday.

 

I love also like to JT and Hideki go at again for 4th time this season, maybe at The Masters or US Open (Playoff!?!?!)

 

At the Open, I wanna see Stenson and Fitzpatrick duke it out.

[SwooshLT]

My thoughts...... spoiled brat is as far from the truth.

 

His "boring" game is conservative in nature due to his ability to make putts and having that confidence, gives the lee-way NOT to have fire at pins..... my mindset is similar; game is not...... but getting on the green is far more important when you make putts.

 

As someone said earlier, the game boils down to wedges and putter if not Kuehne, Holmes, Hend and the like would be consistent winners!

[xflex]

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.

 

If you find him unlikeable you must really hate......um........everyone

[chilllwave]

I don't understand Patrick Reed.

[EntourageLife]

Speith's game, to me, is death by a thousand cuts. It's not a run of a few holes strung together, it's rounds piled up without major mistakes. And when he drains that 30 footer, it's the death blow.

 

Other Barry lol. I miss that show.

[xflex]

Get ready for another big year from Jordan. If he continues to lead the field in GIR its going to be hard to keep up with him. Because every GIR is a legit birdie try for that kid.

[mocokid]

come the masters, I'd still pick Speith with his 'just about' A game, over Day, Rors, DJ, etc. Even if he is annoying to watch at times. That short game (putting) tops all the others. He's got the mental savvy toughness etc.

[Forged4ever]

Forget A game. Speith and Rory are the only two current players, IMO, who could potentially win a major with less than their A game. If Speith can shed the choir boy antics and develop a bit more killer instinct then I see him rising to the top of the game for the next decade. I think him calling out the autograph issues was a good step... shows he's not afraid to piss some people off. I'm buying Speith stock right now.

Nathan also said that he has that "killer" instinct because he took some good natured razzing being the youngest Team member and he took it like a Champ, and the older guys grew to really like him but when he was beating the #1 ranked Bama Boi during their second match, he was 3 up on the 16th tee and Nathan said to him that if he squared with the kid on 16 he'd shut him down 3&2.

 

Jordan took his driver from his caddie, walked close to Nathan, smiled and said in a low voice, "how bout I take the hole and leave no doubt in his mind," lmao, and he winked at Nathan, lol.

 

This was a 17yo kid against a 22yo man-

 

Jordan shut him down, 4&2

 

When his foot is on your throat, he's blind and deaf, lmao

 

He's good to go Bro?

 

Have a great season??

 

My Best,

Richard

[Shilgy]

His A game is impressive. But... He has won 9 times in 100 starts. By all accounts he has won occasionally without his A game. If he is unbeatable with his A game that means he has only summoned it, what, 6 times or so out of 100? Seems to be a rare occurrence.

[Justin.B]

Super nice guy from everything I've heard, has an a game but needs to improve the big stick (accuracy and perhaps distance).

[bruinsPATSirish]

Forget A game. Speith and Rory are the only two current players, IMO, who could potentially win a major with less than their A game. If Speith can shed the choir boy antics and develop a bit more killer instinct then I see him rising to the top of the game for the next decade. I think him calling out the autograph issues was a good step... shows he's not afraid to piss some people off. I'm buying Speith stock right now.

Nathan also said that he has that "killer" instinct because he took some good natured razzing being the youngest Team member and he took it like a Champ, and the older guys grew to really like him but when he was beating the #1 ranked Bama Boi during their second match, he was 3 up on the 16th tee and Nathan said to him that if he squared with the kid on 16 he'd shut him down 3&2.

 

Jordan took his driver from his caddie, walked close to Nathan, smiled and said in a low voice, "how bout I take the hole and leave no doubt in his mind," lmao, and he winked at Nathan, lol.

 

Jordan shut him down, 4&2

 

When his foot is on your throat, he's blind and deaf, lmao

 

He's good to go Bro

 

Have a great season

 

My Best,

Richard

 

Any of us that played sports with "that guy" know what you mean.

 

 

The guy who wasn't sweating in the bottom of the 9th with a runner on 2nd.

 

The guy who breathed easy on 4th and Goal in Overtime.

 

The guy who pulled up as smooth as silk for three at the buzzer.

 

 

The "killer instinct" really is a thing and there is zero doubt in anybody's mind, Jordan's got it.

[widow-maker]

Jordan manages his game better than most. His misses are usually in a spot where he can get it up and down. The key to being a great player is that you make pars out of bogeys. Jack Nicklaus' greatest trait was turning a 75 into a 72 and not shooting himself out of the tournament in early rounds when he was off a bit. Then all of a sudden your in contention again on the back 9 on Sunday. Spieth has showed a knack in his young career to be near the lead on Sunday in Majors. He had 1 horrific hole at Augusta, but in general, this kid isn't a choker.... in fact, he's shown himself to be pretty clutch when he's in the fire.

[moonshine]

I just don't give it that much thought....by the way Titleist "we are the winners" email stated he played 915 this past week. Anyone confirm?

 

Justin Thomas may not sniff a win any time soon...does that mean he had a sucky year?

[Man_O_War]

putting... it neutralizes better ball strikers others advantages. Good short game too. Long game is ...meh.. You aren't going to make many 20 - 30 footers every week.