Jordan Spieth’s most recognizable part of his game is his putting.
Whether or not that’s fair, it’s where the majority of golf fans see him on television, and his prowess on the greens has become a calling card of sorts for the 24-year-old Texan. However, through six rounds on the PGA Tour in 2018, Spieth’s putter has let him down, dropping more than four strokes to the field between the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the first two rounds of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
On Friday, despite his recent struggles, Spieth found the bottom of the cup in record-breaking fashion. Facing a 91-footer, Spieth hit the center of the cup, walking after the putt before it even reached the hole.
.@JordanSpieth‘s 90’8″ made putt was just the 12th registered make of more than 90 feet since the Tour began using ShotLink data in 2003.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) January 13, 2018
.@JordanSpieth: made 90’8″ birdie putt on 5th hole today, the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career by nearly 40 feet
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) January 13, 2018
Found the one putt longer at Waialae than Jordan Spieth’s 90-footer today… @jarrodlylepga made a 91-foot putt on the 2nd hole in round 1 back in 2007.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) January 13, 2018
GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard had more from Spieth and the putt’s broader context.
Perhaps the most clutch putter of his generation made just a single putt longer than 5 feet on Friday at the Sony Open; of course, that one putt was probably enough to ease the pain.
At the par-4 fifth hole, Spieth’s approach found the front edge of the green, with the pin cut in the back right. As he stood over his birdie putt from 90 feet, 8 inches taking practice strokes, it just didn’t feel right.
“This is such an uncomfortable feeling, I’d be better hitting wedge,” he thought to himself.
Nevertheless, the world No. 2 used his putter and converted the birdie, one of four birdies he made on Day 2, for the longest made putt of his career by some 40 feet.
It was the longest putt made at Waialae Country Club since the PGA Tour began tracking distances in 2003.
Still, Spieth’s second-round 68 was a story of missed opportunities, particularly on the greens, where he lost nearly a shot in strokes gained-putting.
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