AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) – Jordan Spieth shrugged and smiled, as he always does. “It was a strange, strange hole,” he added.
Spieth was referring to the par-4 13th hole at Austin Country Club, which is known for producing some of the most exciting moments at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play each year. But that wasn’t his only “abnormal” hole on Day 1.
The strangeness began when Spieth made a simple shot at the drivable 13th hole into a challenge.
“I went to driver because all you have to do is blow it over the green,” Spieth explained, “but I’ve never tried to hit it 40 yards past the pin.” “I went over it, and instead of ripping a high one like [opponent Keegan Bradley], I got stuck trying to chip cut it and just high toed it.” I don’t know, it was a weird circumstance in which I wasn’t fully committed, despite the fact that it was the most committed shot you could ever shoot.”
Spieth’s tee shot ended up in the water, and with Bradley’s pin high after a flawless drive, it looked like Spieth would lose the hole. Bradley, on the other hand, chipped his second shot into the water, and Spieth, from the drop zone, nailed his third shot to 5 feet for an unlikely par and an even more unexpected tie.
Bradley’s second shot at the par-5 16th hole went over the green, causing more confusion three holes later. Spieth’s caddie cautioned him before he could play his second shot.
“I was about to take a swing when [caddie Michael Greller] remarked, ‘Hey, I believe you should wait in case that’s out of bounds.’ Spieth explained, “He suggested it may be Keegan’s stroke again.” “I was about to strike when he said it.”
Bradley’s ball went out of bounds, forcing him to take a fourth shot from the same place before Spieth could hit his second. It also provided Spieth the opportunity to rethink his tactics.
“Knowing he was out of bounds really helped, and I switched to a 6-iron short left of the green where I could just pitch it up the green instead of trying to whack it in two,” Spieth said.
Spieth won the hole to take his first lead in the match and went on to win the match 2-up on No. 18.
