Even when he’s not in contention on Sunday, boredom rarely sets in if you’re following Jordan Spieth at a PGA Tour event.
The 2025 season has already been a rollercoaster ride for Spieth, who posted top-10 finishes at both the WM Phoenix Open and the Cognizent Classic in the Palm Beaches, but then opened with a 76 at the Genesis Invitational and missed the cut.
During Thursday’s opening round of The Players Championship, Spieth took fans on yet another thrill ride, opening his day by going birdie-eagle on his first two holes at TPC Sawgrass, using a hole-out from the bunker to get to 3 under.
Of course, nothing comes easy for Spieth these days, not even sponsor exemptions. The Texan was a bit miffed when he wasn’t added into the field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, insisting that he “needed to play better injured golf last year, I guess.”
Spieth didn’t manage a victory during the 2024 season, and though he did make it to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, he was knocked out after the opening event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. But the three-time major champion had wrist surgery in late August,
On Thursday, after a pair of pars, Spieth gave his early edge back quickly, posting a double on No. 14 (he started on the back nine) after pulling his drive and taking a penalty on the par 5. He added a bogey on 15 after missing a seven-foot par putt.
But Spieth wasn’t done with the excitement just yet. He then pulled some magic out of his bag on No. 16, chipping in from 77 feet to post his second eagle in six holes.
Spieth barely hit the island green on No. 17 and then three-putted for bogey, but followed with a birdie on No. 18 to finish with an incredible 34 that included two eagles, two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Never boring.
After his showing in Phoenix, Spieth insisted he’s close to getting back to the form he displayed in capturing 13 PGA Tour wins.
“I didn’t feel like this was a one-off. It felt like this is just trending the right direction. I’m pretty realistic with myself on that,” he said after a T-4 finish. “My expectations have been low, like I’ve mentioned. Just trying to get a little bit better each time.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jordan Spieth had a wild ride in opening nine at 2025 Players Championship
