Jordan Spieth: “I’m a Better Golfer Than I’ve Been in a Long Time”

Jordan Spieth: “I’m a Better Golfer Than I’ve Been in a Long Time”

Jordan Spieth left the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship with something more important than one strong score:

A level of belief he has not felt in a very long time.

“I’m a lot better golfer than I’ve been in a very long time.”

Spieth says he has produced similar golf during much of the previous two weeks, although not every scorecard reflected it. His priority in Memphis was to avoid reacting emotionally to each hole and simplify the entire challenge.

“Dumb it down to try to win the golf tournament.”

That meant ignoring the wider consequences, remaining patient and trusting the game he believes has returned.

The round felt almost completely stress-free.

Official statistics may show several missed greens, but Spieth says every one of those balls finished on the fringe with a putter available. In practical terms, he felt as though he had hit all 18 greens.

Even the early holes that failed to produce birdies did not create frustration.

Spieth viewed the tap-in pars as evidence that his least successful version of those holes was still causing no damage.

Then the first significant putt fell on the ninth.

“The lid came off.”

Spieth began converting more opportunities early on the back nine and produced three consecutive birdies from the 11th through the 13th.

The most meaningful shots, however, were not necessarily the birdies.

On the third, Spieth hit a high hook from the tee—a ball flight he says he had not produced in approximately 20 years. The recovery contained mud on the left side of the ball, water short and right and approximately 225 yards remaining.

Spieth struck a 4-iron to around 15 feet.

He called it his best swing of the day and, more significantly, a shot he had not possessed during recent difficult seasons.

“I didn’t have that shot. I haven’t had that shot in a long time.”

The swing reinforced his belief that nothing extraordinary is required. If the current level continues, more putts from the 10- to 20-foot range will eventually fall.

Another important moment arrived on the par-three 14th.

After making three consecutive birdies, Spieth ignored the flag and deliberately selected a safer target. He admits that aiming away from the hole is often difficult for him.

The committed 7-iron found the green, and Spieth calmly accepted the two-putt.

That decision meant more to him than simply extending the birdie run. It demonstrated discipline when momentum could easily have encouraged unnecessary aggression.

The FedExCup top-50 situation remains significant.

Spieth has experienced similar pressure in recent seasons, but says the context is completely different. The previous two years, his game was clearly deteriorating as he reached this point.

This time, he believes the overall statistical level has been strong. A five- or six-week period from the Memorial through The Open caused problems because he pressed on a technical issue that may not have required so much attention.

Outside that stretch, he has seen considerable progress.

The results in several major events were not strong enough to make Memphis completely stress-free, but Spieth refuses to let that erase his broader view.

If the week works out, excellent.

If it does not:

“I know next year is going to be an awesome year for me.”

Watch Jordan Spieth’s complete opening-round interview from the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

#JordanSpieth #FedExStJude #FedExCup