Jordan Spieth says he has already come to terms with his astonishing Masters collapse at Augusta last month and is confident the episode will not leave lasting psychological scars.
The former world number one was the unhappy architect of one the greatest meltdowns in golf history when he blew a five-shot lead heading into the back nine on the final day.
The 22-year-old’s hopes of back-to-back Masters triumphs unravelled when he shot a quadruple bogey seven on Augusta National’s famous par-three 12th hole.
Speaking during an event to announce a $1 million donation to a children’s hospital in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Spieth said he had no problem putting the loss in perspective.
“I’m not taking it very hard,” Spieth said in remarks reported by several US media outlets yesterday.
“I’ve got ladies at the grocery stores putting their hand on me and going, ‘Really praying for you. How are you doing?’
“I’m like, ‘My dog didn’t die. I’ll be OK.’ I’ll survive. It happens.”
Spieth, who took the golf world by storm in 2015 with two major victories, is now targeting a defense of his US Open crown at next month’s tournament at Oakmont Country Club. He said he was ready to face questions about his Masters collapse for some time yet.
“I laugh about (the Masters) now, I really do,” Spieth said.
“But it will keep coming up. I understand that. And it’s tough every time it comes up. It was very tough to go through.
“At the same time, I’m very fortunate that I now have a couple major victories that I can draw on.”
Spieth, who played a round at Oakmont on Wednesday as he prepares for the US Open, said he had got over his Masters disappointment through his own determination and support from friends, family and mentors.
“Seventy-five percent you have to do it yourself; and then 25 percent relying on my team, family, friends,” Spieth said.
“And then messages I get from mentors, pretty much saying, ‘Hey, you’ve been in contention six out of the last eight majors, won a couple of them.’
“Something like that; the wrong miss at the wrong time is bound to happen at some point.”
He compared the Masters collapse to a double-bogey at the US Open last year at Chambers Bay which he took in his stride before clinching the title.
“On 17 I made double-bogey and kind of squeaked it out at the end, but that was potentially the same kind of experience as the Masters. You’re going to be on the good end and bad end.
“When we’re on the good end again, I’ll be able to enjoy it even more having experienced the other side of it.”
Jordan Spieth
