Scottsdale, Ariz. – In the middle of the final round of the WM Phoenix Open, Jordanspeace walked the 11th green with a smile as broad as his home town in Texas.
He just made four of the world and saved one of the most challenging holes in TPC Scottsdale. Spieth sailed his drive to the right of the fairway, and his balls settled under the bushes of the desert. An in-playable lie was quickly made possible, but Spieth didn't want to drop him as he didn't leave any better options. So he and his caddy, Michael Greller, faced a dangerous decision. Should Spieth hit three woods from there and try to get the ball forward as much as he can onto the ground? Or is a 3-hybrid enough? How about his putter?
They eventually scored a flat stick and Spieth turned it over and slammed it backwards. His ball rolled about 35 yards ahead, barely avoiding another shrub before resting not too far from the kart pass. He now has an opening in the green and has 123 yards remaining for his third shot. Spieth then thrusts it into 13 feet. I drained the sidewinder for par.
It was a vintage Jordan Spieth. He has the trick to saving par in the most ridiculous situations. Many compare his ability to recover with the ability of the great Seve Ballesteros these days.
Spieth made another classic par save on hole 18, finishing his third round on Saturday, keeping his bogey-free day intact. He's been playing incredible golf all week. Given this event, it's an impressive display considering that he will only mark his second start in competition since August when he had wrist surgery.
Spieth then sat in second place and entered the final round, 13 under the championship, and a five-stroke from Thomas Detley.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
