Having scaled back his playing schedule the last couple of years, Steve Stricker no longer gets many opportunities to play 18 holes with his one-time Presidents Cup partner Jordan Spieth.
On Thursday, Stricker received an up-close view of the new Masters champion. Count him as impressed.
Spieth, making his first start in his home state since claiming the Green Jacket last month, wrapped up a rain-delayed first round at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial with a bogey-free, 6-under 64. That gives the Dallas native a share of the lead with Ryo Ishikawa, Kevin Na and Boo Weekley.
“It’s fun to watch him,” said Stricker, the 2009 Crowne Plaza champ who shot a 67 in his first start here in five years. “He played great. He’s got a lot of confidence and he’s hitting it well and putting it well.”
Spieth should have confidence here. He tied for 7th in his first look at Colonial two years ago and tied for 14th last year. The lessons learned in those two years – don’t play overly aggressive – came into play on Thursday.
“I’m comfortable enough hitting my 9-8-7 irons into the green right now,” Spieth said. “They’re so receptive that you can still fire them right at the flag, so I was able to lay back, where I maybe pushed it and got into trouble the past years.”
The four times Spieth did miss the green, his putter saved him. He made three par-saving putts from 7-9 feet, and then at the 18th, he rolled in a 19-foot putt from off the green for a final birdie.
“That really keeps the momentum going,” Spieth said of those putts.
Momentum and confidence. If Spieth maintains those two things the
next three days, it could be a very fun weekend for the locals.