Spieth: Good but not good enough

Jordan Spieth admits a couple of costly mistakes prevented him from catching Jimmy Walker at the Valero Texas Open on Sunday.

Ultimately the 21-year-old, who was fresh off a victory at the Valspar Championship only days ago, paid the price for a poor front nine where he allowed Walker to build to big a lead.

Spieth finally came to life after the turn, and for a short while it appeared as if things might get interesting over the closing stretch, but it was not to be.

While Spieth added birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 17, Walker was able to match at least a couple of those to hold him at bay.

“I obviously would have liked to make that run a little earlier to make it a shootout,” Spieth said. “But I just didn’t have that stuff around that middle stretch of the round, made a couple of costly mistakes, where I was trying to be a little too aggressive. You just can’t do that.

“To come from four back was going to be really hard today,” Spieth said. “I had to play a flawless, and without any of the bogeys we’d be going to a playoff. Certainly making enough putts and capitalizing on some opportunities, but I’ve got to watch those wayward shots.”

Despite the disappointment, Spieth can hardly complain about his last few weeks in the game, nor about how well it sets him up for a tilt at the Masters, where he surprised everyone by finishing second last year.

“I feel great with my last start being a win, and this being a runner-up.” Spieth added. “I’m going to play next week in Houston on a golf course that’s really not well suited for me. I know that going in, so hopefully I can stay calm and collected and just try and pick some tight lines and just trim off the fat, which is what I’m trying to do next week to get ready for Augusta.”

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