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.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy on top but not getting ahead of himself at US PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
-
News
UPS delivers a sponsorship setback to Lee Westwood
The company has ended its deal in an apparent response to Westwood’s involvement with a series of Saudi-backed events.
-
PGA Championship
Tyrell Hatton shares slow play fears as US PGA begins at Southern Hills
This week’s course layout in Tulsa looks set to exacerbate the issue.
-
PGA Championship
‘Recharged’ Shane Lowry excited for week ahead at US PGA Championship
Lowry has finished no worse than 35th in his nine starts this season.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth relishing playing alongside Tiger Woods in career grand slam bid
Spieth has had five attempts to complete the grand slam since adding the 2017 Open title to the Masters and US Open he won in 2015.
-
News
‘He has his opinion, I have mine’ – Tiger Woods on Phil Mickelson controversy
Woods said Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour have been “polarising”.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hoping relaxed approach pays dividends at US PGA Championship
McIlroy did his research via videos posted online before travelling to Oklahoma on Monday.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods believes he can scale another mountain and win US PGA Championship
The 46-year-old finished 47th in the year’s first major, his first top-level event since suffering severe leg injuries.
-
News
Rory McIlroy was pretty sure Saudi-backed breakaway would not happen
The Northern Irishman is waiting to see how it plays out.
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg