Defending Masters champion Jordan Spieth found himself having to answer for a possible rules violation on day two of the Shell Houston Open.
Spieth signed for a frustrating one-over par 73 but was headed to the TV compound after his round over an incident on the fifth hole or the 14th of his round on the Houston Golf Club course.
The former World No. 1 had chipped from the side of the green some 16 feet from the hole and leaving his third shot some six inches short.
Jordan Spieth headed to the TV compound after speaking with the media post his second round in the Shell Houston Open, (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Spieth clearly looked frustrated and in what looked like a one-handed stroke with the putter, missed the ball before holing the putt.
At the time, Spieth looked towards playing partner, Patrick Reed and former PGA Tour winner and now PGA Tour radio commentator, Phil Tataurangi from New Zealand.
In fact, Spieth discussed the incident with Tataurangi after the Kiwi had put two general post-round questions to the Texan.
“I know the incident Jordan was talking about, and you could tell he wasn’t happy, but whether or not his putter went pass the line of the ball, that in golf is considered a stroke, I couldn’t tell him,” said Tataurangi.
However, it was later assessed Spieth was not in breach of any rule.
But it didn’t lighten the load for Spieth with just two rounds to play before he heads north-west to Augusta National.
He said: “I have got to putt better as I’m losing a couple of strokes back to the field on putting and normally we’re gaining strokes.
“I can’t get rhythm. I’m stepping off putts and that’s a tough feeling, and it just bleeds into the rest of your game because you feel like you got to be more aggressive.
“So it really comes down to the putter for me. I have to get better before the Masters. I got to get more comfortable, find a set-up position that I feel like is going to produce the correct start lines on my putts.”
Fellow American Charley Hoffman continues to lead the event added a 70 to move to the clubhouse lead at 10-under par, and in the event delayed by 90-minute due to heavy rain at the start of day two.
