Jordan Spieth seeks fresh start at CJ Cup Byron Nelson

 

[May 02, 2024]  It's been a rough season for three-time major winner Jordan Spieth.

Spieth has just one top-10 finish in his past seven events, a stretch that has also featured a disqualification and three missed cuts. The 30-year-old finished tied for 39th at the RBC Heritage on April 21 in his most recent outing.

But Spieth believes it is often darkest before the dawn, and he hopes to begin turning things around at this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas.

"Sometimes that can be disguised right before it happens," Spieth said of a turnaround. "I'm believing that has been the case and need a couple confidence-building rounds or whatever it may be, and feel like I go on a really nice run. That's the plan."

Over the past week, Spieth has tried to put his mediocre performances behind him as he tries to head into the Byron Nelson with a clear mind.

"Kind of looking at this as kind of a restart. I haven't had the year I wanted to have after getting off to a pretty optimistic start in Hawaii," Spieth said. "I feel really good about the work I put in since the weekend into the few days this week, so I believe that I'm really close to some great things."

Before falling off the rails a bit, Spieth had opened the 2024 campaign with a third-place finish at The Sentry before following up a T39 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a T6 at the Phoenix Open.

But then the rut started, as Spieth signed an incorrect scorecard at the Genesis Invitational, leading to the disqualification.

As he attempts to get back on track, Spieth is drawing inspiration from Scottie Scheffler, who has won four of the past five tournaments he has participated in. Scheffler tied for second in the only event he didn't win during that stretch.

Scheffler is not in the field for the Byron Nelson as he awaits the arrival of his first child.

"I am inspired by what he is doing," Spieth said of Scheffler. "It makes me want to go out and get better. ... And that's always been someone that's older than me. Kind of the first time I felt that way about somebody that's younger."

Since both Spieth and Scheffler live in Dallas, the two frequently hit the links together, and Spieth is eager to elevate his game to Scheffler's current level.

"I have nothing in my way of being able to make that happen but my own self," Spieth said. "I've got enough. I believe in my ceiling, and I believe my ceiling is as high as anybody's. I have to get each part of my game up toward its ceiling."

The Byron Nelson begins Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch.

--Field Level Media

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