Jordan Spieth has stormed to a one shot lead at the Hero World Challenge just four days after capturing the Australian Open in Sydney.
That’s a distance of 9,336 miles between the member’s only Australian Club and the gated community at Isleworth Estate in Windermere, Florida.
Spieth posted a six under par 66 in just his second appearance in the elite 18-man $3.5m tournament.
Jordan Spieth travels 9,336 miles from Sydney to Orlando to lead by one four days after capturing the Australian Open. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie).
“It was a good Thursday. Really good start. Nice to put myself in position under par; get a feel for how the course is playing this week,” he said.
“Seeing some putts go in is always important. Felt like I missed it in the right spots today. Had a solo bogey on a tough hole. Actually hit a good shot in there then missed the putt.
“Yeah, I’m excited about the start to this week. I’m excited about how last week went and kind of riding the momentum. I’m going to give it my all these last few days because there is a break after that, so…
“And the TifEagle greens are really similar to what I grew up on, these big kind of gentle sloping greens. I mean, it’s almost identical to the place I grew up in in Dallas, so I’m very comfortable. Obviously spent whatever, 10 years out on those greens.
“Same with the way the bermuda runs around the greens. It’s kind of into the green, kind of sandy bermuda. So I feel comfortable on this type of grass playing the shots that I grew up playing. Maybe that’s it.
“I enjoy playing in the wind. I like the layout of the golf course. You’ve got to work both ball flights. No matter where the pin is there is always a place you can miss as well.”
However after traveling from Japan to Sydney and Sydney direct to Dallas Spieth admitted he was struggling with the effects of ‘jet lag’ despite his lofty position.
“Yeah, the furthest I’ve flown was Japan to Australia the week before this for consecutive weeks, so this is the furthest by far that I’ve flown,” he said.
“Yeah, I was jet lagged. Yesterday I was very tired. Yesterday was the second day, which was rough. Today I felt fine. I was able to sleep until 9:00 a.m.
“It’s tough coming back because it’s tough to fall asleep, and then you want to sleep in late. I am off late again tomorrow. I was 100% today. Should stay that way the rest of the week.”
