Jordan Spieth Shines at THE CJ CUP
17H AGO
By Kevin Robbins
MCKINNEY, Texas — After his second round at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, Jordan Spieth made a swift assessment. “I think it was 57,” he calculated, referring to the combined best-ball score of his group, which included Chris Kirk and Sungjae Im. Together, they made 19 birdies and three eagles on a charming morning in North Dallas, highlighted by Im’s impressive hole-in-one from 224 yards on the par-3 seventh.
Spieth recorded an impressive nine birdies in his round, finishing strong with a bogey-free score of 9-under 62 at TPC Craig Ranch. He achieved an exceptional six consecutive birdies from holes 1 to 6, tying his personal TOUR record. This performance gives the Dallas-native ample reason to believe he is nearing a return to his peak form. He notably gained nearly four strokes on the field due to his putting and short-game prowess, reminiscent of the days when he frequently competed for major titles.
Ending the day at 12-under, Spieth found himself six shots behind the second-round leader, Si Woo Kim. In his post-round comments, he expressed his satisfaction with his performance, avoiding any mention of mistakes as he felt very few occurred. Instead, he highlighted how good he feels about his technique and overall health.
Spieth mentioned, “I felt fluid,” recalling his journey from a long period of inconsistency to regaining his form. He reflected on how pivotal it has been to focus outwardly on the game, rather than becoming too wrapped up in mechanics. As he looks back at his earlier days competing in this tournament, he recalls fondly how he tied for 16th as an amateur back in 2010.
Throughout the round, he capitalized on favorable scoring opportunities, relishing the moments where he was positioned well for birdies. “It’s just nice to capitalize, right?” he said, emphasizing the satisfaction of playing well under pressure.
Despite some struggles with his driver, missing six fairways on a generous course, Spieth recovered admirably, scrambling effectively by saving par from off the greens. His exceptional putting also played a major role, as he sunk over 100 feet of putts during the round.
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