A lost ball in the rough and a ball stuck up a tree and both leading to double-bogeys.
It’s the sort of story to be heard in any clubhouse following a Saturday morning medal round.
Though in this case it was just two holes in a whole golf bag full of ups-and-downs for four-time major winning Jordan Spieth in posting a three-over par 73 on the opening day of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.
Spieth had bogeyed the first but then lost a ball down the right side of the second but without the aid of spectators, and despite there being 425 ball spotters employed this week, he could not be located his ball within the required the three minute search time.
The winner of the 2015 U.S. Open, and who has not won since capturing the 2017 Open Championship, was driven back to the tee to play his third shot but walked off a few minutes later with a double-bogey ‘6’.
No matter, as Spieth the got back to level with three birdies in succession from the fourth and then make the turn at level par.
Though the golfing gods were not done with the Lone Star golfer.
Things began to unravel with a bogey at the par-3 10th hole, where he couldn’t save par from a greenside bunker. He was in the trees at 11, but hit a terrific second shot under one branch and over some others to inside 11 feet.
In playing his second shot at the 12th Spieth’s ball was lost in the trees and being unable to identify his ball meant a penalty shot and walking out with an eventual double-bogey ‘7’.
Spieth did birdie 15 but a bogey followed at 17.
The former World No. 1 but currently World No. 67 hit just three of the 14 Winged Foot fairways.
“Standing on a tee at the U.S. Open and not exactly knowing where the ball is going to go is not a great feeling,” Spieth said. “I know you guys probably haven’t experienced that before, but it’s not incredibly enjoyable. But I’ll grind it out. I don’t ever give up. I have no reason to. I’m here.
“I feel that, even with not having much tee to green, I can somehow still shoot an even or under par round on this course,” he added, “and that’s incredible self-belief in the grind.”
It’s hard not to feel for the Texan as he is one of golf’s Mr. Nice Guys and, somewhat like McIlroy, just can’t seem to get off four victories in the Majors.
