GETTING BACK UP TO SPIETH

Jordan’s so grateful for the shutdown.. it has given him a chance to resurrect his floundering career

JORDAN SPIETH saw the shutdown of the PGA Tour as a “bigtime opportunity” to resurrect his floundering career.

And the Texan believes playing the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth today is the perfect place to start.

The former world No.1 has not won since the 2017 Open and dropped out of the world’s top 50 for the first time since the start of his career.

He recorded only one top-50 finish in his five starts this season as he struggled off the tee.

But after taking a month off, the world No.56 got back to work in a bid to rediscover his old magic touch – especially on the greens

– which saw him win three Majors in three years and become the best player in the world.

“I looked at it as a big-time opportunity for myself and didn’t take it lightly,” said the Dallas-based star. “I was certainly grateful for the time.

“It’s not a positive situation in general, but I tried to work out how I could take advantage.

“It was a strong focal point of the last few months: how to get better physically and mentally, and what was the best way to put that in place. It’s not something that clicks and all of a sudden you’re just automatically the best player in the world. It’s a process.

“But creating the right little habits to get me back on track was a big emphasis. I feel like I’m progressing in the right direction.”

The top five players in the world – led by Rory Mcilroy – will tee up today at the Colonial Country Club, where Spieth won in 2016 and has also twice finished second.

“I really love this place,” said the 26-year-old, who won the US Masters and US Open in 2015.

All players will have to adjust to the new normal, with tests, daily screenings, social distancing on the course, hand-sanitising stations on every hole – and no crowds.

Spieth, who is paired with fellow American young guns Rickie Fowler (left) and Justin Thomas in the opening rounds, said: “It’ll be weird because we’re used to being able to use the energy of the fans and feed off of them and we love having the support.

“It’s a bit of a shame but I’m happy to be back playing golf. I think that all players have a responsibility for it to go off very smoothly.”

Players will observe a minute’s silence at 8.46am to pay tribute to George Floyd.