Jordan Spieth enjoys return to form in Houston

Jordan Spieth enjoyed a timely return to form at the Houston Open, as outsider Sam Ryder topped the leaderboard before play was suspended.
Spieth has endured a miserable time with form and confidence in 2018, but just a week before the Masters get underway, the 2015 Augusta champion produced his best round of the year so far.
The American shot a four under 68, including birdies on the final three holes after he had dropped shots on both the 12th and 13th.
That left Spieth four adrift of world number 321 Ryder, who was in the outright lead after 15 holes, before play was brought to a halt early because of darkness.
Another birdie for @JordanSpieth.
He's now 3 under.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/NfUcB0Hfgh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 29, 2018
“I put in a lot of work the last few days and we’re starting to get something out of it,” said Spieth.
“The game feels really good right now. That four under felt more like a six under but that means good things are coming.
“It has been a testing time in terms of how I feel about myself more than anything, just my self-confidence. I’ve been putting in some good work on and off the course and I feel really good about today’s round.
“It was an exciting day for me. Sometimes you’ve just got to take one step forward to start climbing up the hill again.”
The opening round was delayed for two hours because of heavy rain, which left a number of players – including Ryder – with holes still to play.
😳 @RickieFowler made 169 feet of putts today. 😳
That's FIFTY feet more than any other round for him this season.
He made SEVEN putts outside 10 feet. pic.twitter.com/GtGIMVcC23
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 30, 2018
Ryder is a shot clear of Kevin Tway and ex-US Open champion Lucas Glover, with Beau Hossler also on seven under, albeit he has two holes still to play. Rickie Fowler is among a group of five players at six under.
Phil Mickelson had threatened to join the leaders after six birdies on his front nine, but a double bogey on the 14th saw him join Spieth at four under.
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.