The Masters 2015

Jordan Spieth

Character and Authenticity

Hazel Irvine: Today was Grand National Day, Paul, in Great Britain. It’s a horse race. A bit of a horse race. This appears to be a one horse race. Will it remain like that?

Paul Azinger: Well, we’ll see. The golf course is looks like receptive again today. It rained overnight. The greens are still soft and they’ve been soft the entire week. It’s like throwing darts out there.

And when the best players show up there’s usually 5 or 10 of them that are red hot, Hazel. And obviously Jordan Spieth is the hottest of the bunch. He’s got some really strong pursuers behind.

I think some of these guys have shown that you can shoot some good scores out there today. There are some birdie opportunities. I think they have to capitalize on the par 5s. What I look for out of Jordan Spieth he’s had terrific feel in the finesse zone. Anything other than full.

We make our living making full shots. And then adding to full. We try to know what our max distances are. And what our full distances are. And that’s where we make our living. It’s the finesse stuff that’s difficult.

But it’s also the finesse part of the game that can separate you from the pack. And Jordan Spieth has been brilliant this week moving around the greens. Fantastic from 40 yards. 50 yards.

Pitching it up like this on the par 5s. So when the pressure really kicks in and you sleep on the lead two nights in a row sometimes you lose a little bit of that feel for the finesse.

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Hazel Irvine: You know, he’s not a show man. He’s not a muscle man. He’s a surgeon this guy. He just dissects this course so far. How has he done it so far?

Paul Azinger: He’s picked the brain of a lot of players that have had some experience here. He’s spent some time with Ben Crenshaw the first year he played here. I think he’s dreamed about this.

And the unique thing about Augusta National is that we return here every year. There’s nobody coming in here innocent coming in here of the history of the golf tournament. And Jordan Spieth is a student of the game. He’s as poised as any 21 year old really since probably Tiger Woods or Ernie Els who were brilliant early on, weren’t they Peter.

Again I just feel he’s ahh he comes in with a strategy. And philosophy. A belief without the arrogance. And I love his demeanor. He’s authentic.

It’s as if he opened up his brain to us and revealed in the Press Room how he thinks. Very articulate. I’m amazed at his composure. He’s mature beyond his years in that he is great in the finesse zone as I referred to earlier. It takes players a while to realize how to play the game. And he does play the game. He’s not out playing with golf swings. I feel he plays with an uncluttered mind. And it’s refreshing to watch.

Hazel: You know you talk about strengths weaknesses. It’s hard to think about a weakness. Course management seems to be a course metric. I know it’s not a very sexy thing Course Management. But it seems to abound in him.

Peter: He’s a remarkable young man. Paul said it all. He is very articulate. He’s probably one of the best speakers that I’ve heard from young professional players of anyone. Men women of any age. He doesn’t um and ah. He listens to the question. He answers it. He’s quite remarkable. So far he’s shown no great signs of nerves. Once or twice a little catchy, rrrwww, But we have to wait to see if there’s an explosion close to the top. It will be a remarkable test the next 48 hours.

Paul: He is a great listener as you say. In the Press Room you can tell he’s hearing what your asking him. And there’s a beat there before he begins to answer.

Peter: He doesn’t prepare an answer before you’ve asked.

Paul: That’s right. He’s not guarded yet. In the innocence of youth I feel he hasn’t been burned yet by anybody yet in the media so that he still trusts. But with the answers that he gives it’s pretty hard to take him down. I hope he doesn’t leave here scarred. I really am rooting for Jordan Spieth.

We’re not supposed to root. But I’m pulling for him. I really am.

Jordan Spieth