logo
Jordan Spieth Goes Nuclear, Gears Up for Grand Slam at PGA Championship

Jordan Spieth Goes Nuclear, Gears Up for Grand Slam at PGA Championship

Newsweek04-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Jordan Spieth looked unstoppable Sunday afternoon at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson PGA Tour event.
He signed for an impressive bogey-free 9-under 62 to jump 20 spots up the leaderboard and likely finish inside the Top 5. Spieth finished at 19-under overall.
Even though Spieth never had a real shot at catching Scottie Scheffler, who is setting PGA Tour records this week, this low round was a victory for Spieth in its own right.
It marked his lowest season score, previously a 65 at the WM Phoenix Open and the Cognizant Classic. The 62 was also his best round since 2021, which tied his career low.
"I've been stroking it well coming into this week, and I didn't have much go in in Hilton Head," Spieth said. "Statistically, I've been on a really good putting run, and I kind of got in a lull for Hilton Head and even into the first few days here. Luckily, today seemed to get out of it."
The former Texas Longhorn made a birdie to start his day at the par-4 1st, and from there, it was like a switch flipped.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS - MAY 04: Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts after a birdie on the 18th green during the final round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson 2025 at TPC Craig Ranch on...
MCKINNEY, TEXAS - MAY 04: Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts after a birdie on the 18th green during the final round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson 2025 at TPC Craig Ranch on May 04, 2025 in McKinney, Texas. More
Photo byJordan Spieth Putter Catching Fire
Spieth noted that the first putt helped him a lot on Sunday.
"Honestly, seeing the putt go in the middle on No. 1 was nice," Spieth said after his round on Sunday. "It was only six or seven feet, but it was an uphill right-to-lefter. I was like, 'Wow, okay. I liked how that felt.'"
He added three in a row on holes 4-6 and his fifth at the par-5 9th to turn in 31 strokes.
Spieth made two more birdies on 11 and 12.
Chip-in magic for @JordanSpieth! 💥
The Dallas native is T2 and has the round of the day at -7 thru 12 @CJByronNelson.
📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/k7Gg3cDash — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 4, 2025
He added his eighth of the day at the par-4 14th and finished off his round with on 18 to collect nine birdies total.
The 13-time PGA Tour winner picked up +2.210 in strokes gained putting. It was not just his birdie putts that were big for him, but also those short ones for par that can sometimes cause him grief.
He made over 91 feet in putts on Sunday, and +6.430 in strokes gained total.
Spieth had wrist surgery last year, which caused him to miss most of the Fall PGA Tour season. It took the 3-time major champion some time to dust off the rust when he returned from injury, but he is slowly returning to form.
"The ultimate goal is consistent play, but it's not bogey avoidance or anything like that," he explained. "I'm not changing strategy. It's just that my mechanics are
getting a little bit better each week. I'm able to do sufficient stuff, maybe that I wasn't able to do last year."
The Texas native looked like his old self on Sunday, as it seems his game is finally coming around again.
It is the perfect time for him to regain prior form.
The PGA Championship tees off at Quail Hollow in 11 days. That is the sole major championship Spieth is yet to win. He won the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2015, before capturing the Open Championship in 2017.
Rory McIlroy recently became just the sixth golfer ever to win the career Grand Slam. Spieth will look to join that list. If he plays the way he did on Sunday, that is a very real possibility.
More Golf: Rory McIlroy Shares Unknown Heartfelt Masters Story with Daughter, Poppy

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Astros DFA Forrest Whitley, former top pitching prospect in baseball
Astros DFA Forrest Whitley, former top pitching prospect in baseball

New York Times

time27 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Astros DFA Forrest Whitley, former top pitching prospect in baseball

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros designated right-hander Forrest Whitley for assignment on Sunday, putting their tumultuous, nine-year partnership with the pitcher in peril. Once touted as the top starting pitching prospect in baseball, Whitley had withered into a mop-up reliever incapable of procuring outs during lopsided games. He had a 12.27 ERA and six walks across 7 ⅓ major-league innings this season. Advertisement Each of the last three games Whitley entered featured at least a 10-run separation between the two teams. Whitley still surrendered seven earned runs across the 4 ⅔ innings he threw. Houston now has seven days to either trade Whitley or pass him through outright waivers, where all 29 teams will have a chance to claim him. Whitley is still just 27 years old and still wields tantalizing stuff, but his lack of minor-league options may give teams pause when deciding whether to pursue him. Because Whitley has fewer than three years of major-league service time, he would not be able to elect free agency if he clears waivers. If Whitley does clear waivers, Houston would then outright him off the 40-man roster and to Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros selected Whitley with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 draft and paid him a $3.148 million signing bonus. Before the 2019 season, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America and MLB Pipeline all labeled Whitley as the sport's best pitching prospect. A freefall ensued, first due to a 50-game drug suspension Whitley incurred before the 2018 season. A slew of injuries followed, including Tommy John surgery in 2020, a lat strain in 2023 and this season, left knee problems that caused two trips to the injured list. 'I told (manager Joe Espada) this, I told the pitching coaches this: I honestly feel embarrassed every time I have to go on the IL or something pops up,' Whitley told The Athletic last month. 'I don't want it to be a reflection of my work ethic. I feel I do everything I can to stay on the field, and it just hasn't worked out lately. 'I feel like I have a certain level of responsibility to give back to the people that have supported me that I don't.' Whitley has thrown just 174 ⅔ innings since 2019. Lesser-touted prospects passed him within Houston's organizational hierarchy and his hold on a 40-man roster spot became more tenuous with each lost season. He entered spring training in February cognizant of his situation, calling this season his 'last chance.' Advertisement 'Every day I throw the baseball, it reminds me of why I keep doing this stuff,' Whitley said last month. 'I know when I go out there, I'm going to be competitive. I know exactly what to do. I have the stuff to get the best big leaguers out. I just have to go out there and do it and make sure I'm out there every time.'

Mid-South Spotlight: Biggest June visits
Mid-South Spotlight: Biggest June visits

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Mid-South Spotlight: Biggest June visits

Nick Lucero/ June has become arguably the most important month in the recruiting calendar, with prospects crisscrossing the country on official visits and lining up announcement dates. Rivals national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman looks at five Mid-South prospects who are taking key visits this month. Advertisement BIG RECRUITING WEEKEND AHEAD: Top storylines | Five biggest Southeast visits in June | Biggest Midwest visits | Biggest Florida visits | Biggest West visits CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info JAMARION CARLTON - Texas A&M, June 13 The race has tightened up drastically at the top with Carlton, who logged an official visit to LSU over the weekend and previously was at Texas Tech for a spring official visit. Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor are all in line to host the blue-chip defender with our attention largely fixated on the Aggies and Longhorns. Each of these in-state programs have been trending with Carlton at various points over the past few months -- with Texas A&M taking a major step forward this spring. As a commitment looms, the Aggies' June 13 official visit looms large toward their chances of winning this critical recruiting battle against the Longhorns and Tigers. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT BOOBIE FEASTER - Texas A&M, June 13 Feaster wrapped up his official visit to Alabama this weekend with stops at USC, LSU and Texas A&M all on deck. Feaster has been tied primarily to SEC teams -- with LSU and Texas A&M each leading the way at various points this off-season. Our intel points to Texas A&M being the leader in the clubhouse -- with an official visit as a chance to truly separate from the pack. My FutureCast is sitting on the Aggies as official visits pick up - and Texas A&M will get a June 13 visit from Feaster before a July 4 commitment. KEISEAN HENDERSON - Florida State, June 9 Henderson has been the face of Houston's 2026 recruiting class. The five-star QB committed to Willie Fritz last May -- and Henderson has since been an active, vocal leader representing the Cougars. Programs like LSU, Florida State and Oregon have all taken swings at Henderson, who will head to Tallahassee on June 9. The Seminoles have swung and missed on several top QB targets this cycle -- and will get their crack at Henderson later this month. Mike Norvell has pulled off some memorable flips at this position over the years -- and Henderson has the potential to follow suit. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FSU FANS AT FELIX OJO - Texas, June 13 Ojo has already logged a handful of official visits. The five-star OT has been on campus at Ole Miss, Florida, Texas Tech and Colorado -- and recently wrapped up an official visit to Ohio State. Texas is on the calendar for June 13 -- one of the biggest recruiting weekends in Austin this summer. Ojo is a priority target for Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood and this Longhorns' staff, and they have been playing with a lead with the in-state OL. Texas is prepared to go all-in to keep Ojo inside the Lone Star State -- and this visit back looms incredibly large toward accomplishing that. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT JOHN TURNTINE III - Texas, June 20 Turntine logged an official visit to Stanford over the weekend and has big trips on the docket to Michigan, Texas A&M and Texas on the horizon. The Longhorns have remained the team best positioned with the in-state OL and made a sizable impression on Turntine and his family during their most recent visit to the Forty. Texas gets the final crack at Turntine on June 20 before a commitment later this summer.

2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot'
2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot'

2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs will have their pick of the litter in the massive talent pool. Advertisement They own their own pick and are owed one from the Atlanta Hawks without any protections, and will pick second, 14th, and 38th overall. The Spurs have already seen one top prospect announce that San Antonio is his preferred landing spot, and in an exclusive interview with Inside the Spurs, another talented player said he wants to play with Victor Wembanyama. Dink Pate and Victor WembanyamaBy Tony Fisher Dink Pate Wants to Link Up With Wemby, Stephon Castle Guard Dink Pate is one of the more exciting prospects in the draft. At 6-8, he is oversized for a point guard and uses his size to find the open man and force his way to the basket. He took an unconventional route to the draft process, signing with the now-defunct G League Ignite when he was just 17 years old. Now in his second G League season, he averaged 10.1 points and 1.9 assists in 34 games with the Mexico City Capitanes. Advertisement While his numbers don't reflect it yet, he prides himself on his ability to be a floor general and lift up his teammates. His on-ball defense, like with most young guards, could use some work, but he isn't worried about that, especially if he ends up in his ideal landing spot. "I think San Antonio would be a good spot for me. To learn from CP3, because he's one of the greatest, in my opinion. I know Steph Castle. And Wemby, just put me with another all-time general, which is you got a 6'8 guard with another 7-foot-whatever, I think that'll make a great program." -Dink Pate Like most point guards, Pate idolizes and respects what Chris Paul has accomplished, and would prefer the Spurs re-sign him for another season if they draft him. Pate has made it clear that he wants to be a day-one starter, but after spending two seasons in the G League, he is projected to be a second-round pick and could very easily spend a third season in the minor leagues. If Paul is still in town, the youngster would defer to the elder, more accomplished player. If Paul is playing elsewhere, Pate would happily throw his hat in the ring to be the Spurs' starting point guard next to Stephon Castle in the backcourt. "Whatever it is, man, I'm ready to step to the occasion and I'm ready to show my worth." Advertisement Pate, right now, is generally considered to be a second-round pick, and the Spurs could scoop him up with the 38th pick, or could wait and see if he goes undrafted. He is participating in the third season of The Break, presented by The General, a docuseries narrated by Shaquille O'Neal that follows up-and-coming players and G League stars. He hopes that the documentary will help tell his personal story and raise his draft stock, and he's made it clear where he believes he can be selected. "The Break, presented by The General has definitely been helping me and it's been pushing my status high and getting my name out there. I see a lot of comments of like, 'Oh, I don't know who this is, but he good.' They're going to find out sooner or later on this." Pate admits that he might not be in the "numero uno" pick conversation, and he will have a lot to prove in the Summer League. Advertisement Pate has a very high ceiling, although, like most later picks, it's unclear if he will be able to live up to the potential. Check out the Inside the Spurs homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Former Spurs Player Delivers Definitive Verdict on 2013 NBA Finals Loss Related: Jeremy Sochan Gets Brutally Honest About Role With San Antonio Spurs This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store