Jordan Spieth took matters into his own hands by ignoring his caddie’s advice in an entertaining exchange at the Memorial Tournament.
The US golfer got off to a mixed start at Muirfield Village Golf Club, carding an even-par 72 in the opening round with four birdies and four bogeys to leave him tied-for-14th.
5
But such a scorecard looked unlikely earlier on in the day, when Spieth found himself two-over-par early on after a pair of opening bogeys.
And the 31-year-old’s frustrations were already mounting at the par-five fifth hole.
After his tee shot hit a tree before landing in the thick rough, Spieth faced a dilemma as he decided how best to navigate a near-impossible lie.
This led him to seek the advice of his caddie Michael Greller, except the pair didn’t quite see eye-to-eye.
In a viral conversation captured by the PGA Tour, the bagman can be seen trying to persuade Spieth to play it safe with a simple chip sideways back towards the fairway to avoid a nearby tree.
However, the three-time major winner was unconvinced, instead insisting he should play a riskier, 115-yard shot onto the fairway to set up an easier approach.
Spieth reasoned with his caddie: “If it gets to the fairway, I can make four. Versus do I still make five if it doesn’t get to the fairway?
Acknowledging the shot’s difficulty, he added: “This has to be hit so hard to go 115!”
Still trying to talk Spieth round, Greller made one last pitch for a chip-out to the left: “Why don’t you hit it right there?”
This only made the golf star dig his heels in more, who replied: “I don’t wanna hit it right there.
5
5
5
“Because I’m hitting good shots, and they’re getting absolutely boned so far, so I can’t accept it.”
The entertaining back-and-forth continued, with Spieth refusing to back down from his risky choice.
And his stubbornness certainly amused the commentator, who joked about the American’s caddie: “Michael Greller has the patience of a school teacher!”
But Spieth’s gamble would ultimately pay off, as he successfully found the fairway with a hard strike to clear the rough.
Things soon got even better for the 2015 Masters champion, who then successfully guided his approach shot near the green, before rolling in the putt for his first birdie of the day.
The hole proved to be a turning point for Spieth, who regained his composure to sink a further three birdies that day to leave him seven shots off the leader Ben Griffin at the end of the round.
5
And the Texan later discussed his high-profile exchange with Greller, as he explained the thinking behind his bold play.
Spieth said afterwards: “It’s really hard to get me to chip out. I chip out maybe less than anyone else that’s ever played the game of golf.
“It’s demoralising enough that I’ll make a terrible decision not to.”
Despite this, he admitted Greller was right to have his doubts over the shot, adding: “His hands are tied on some of those.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to reach the fairway, and I talked him into [it]. I could still make par either way. The reality was eight of 10 (times), I’m not going to cover. I should punch it out.
Reminding everyone of the rewards, Spieth added: “It actually got to the fairway and I made birdie, which doesn’t help the whole cause.”
