HITCH & PUTT
Spieth has a shocker on the greens as Slam bid starts with a splutter
JORDAN SPIETH claimed he could not have putted worse after needing two late birdies to keep alive his bid to complete his career Grand Slam at the US PGA.
The American won the Open last month with a devastating display on the greens in the last six holes.
But on his return to Major golf on the revamped Quail Hollow, branded “brutal” by Tommy Fleetwood, the world No.2 failed to nail a putt longer than five feet in his 33 putts. And he even degreened with his flat stick from 40 yards after driving the 14th.
His 18 successful putts totalled only 39 feet – not much longer than his amazing eagle putt on the 15th at Royal Birkdale.
Starting on the 10th tee, Spieth picked up crucial shots on the 7th and 8th for a one-over 72 to sit five shots behind clubhouse leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.
With his pal Michael Phelps walking with him inside the ropes, the 24-year-old had to fight to keep his head above water
Spieth said: “I can’t putt any worse than I did today. I don’t think I missed any short putts. I just had really poor speed on my really long ones.
“When I had the chances that I had and I just couldn’t get the ball to go in on the greens, that is when I get the most frustrated I can get out there.
“It was just the putter. I hit extremely solid shots that led to very stress-free birdies at seven and eight.
“I needed those from short range because it seemed like the lid was on today. I burned a lot of edges. Some were good putts, some weren’t.
“If I had finished par, par, par, I would have thrown myself out of the tournament.”
The long Charlotte course has been drenched by rain this week to stop the ball running, but the subair system under the sloping greens ensured they were still lightning fast. It proved a tough combination.
US Open champion Brooks Koepka, who shot a 68 alongside Spieth, said: “The greens, if they get about a foot faster, they are kind of unplayable with the pin placements.” World No.78 Olesen coped best with six birdies in his 67. Paul Casey carded the best early score by a Brit with 69 after driving into the trees on his first hole.
“It was not my best stuff today – it was a very good score considering,” he said.
Fleetwood shot a 70 and said: “The course is brutal.”
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston pulled out with a shoulder injury after his opening round of 78.