Jordan Spieth Says Jason Day Separating Himself in Rankings "Bothers" Him

Jordan Spieth seems a little bit envious and worried about Jason Day’s current game. Who wouldn’t be? Day has won three of his last six events this season alone, the Arnold Plamer Invitational, Dell Match Play, and The Players Championship; and two of those, the Arnold Palmer and Players, he went wire-to-wire, and has won seven of his last 17 events. He has distanced himself from second place Spieth in the world golf rankings and that “bothers” the young Texan.

Before the AT&T Byron Nelson this week, where Jordan Spieth showed off by hitting a marshmallow off of a ball into his mouth, he spoke about Day’s increasing lead.

Via ESPN:

"“Especially playing with him in these kinds of weeks where he’s doing what he’s doing. “Going back to Chicago [where Day won the BMW Championship] to Sunday of the PGA to last week, watching the commitment that he had, the focus and then the commitment in each swing that this ball is going where I’m looking and this putt is going in, just stalking it. “I know that feeling and I’m looking to get that back and definitely there’s some motivation there. He’s playing his game. He believes his game is better than anybody else’s and he’s on his game and so it is better than everyone else’s. “What he’s doing right now I think I can win the next two events and I’m still not going to surpass him in the world rankings. He’s separated himself and that bothers me and it motivates me.”"

Spieth is correct in worrying about the Aussie. Day dominated the Players. He was striking the ball so well that he finished his round on Sunday with a 308 yard 2-iron, which he hit a lot off the tee, and an 8-iron into the green. Day hit 72.22% of greens in regulation at the Players, averaged 311 yards off the tee, and played the par-4’s at nine-under and par-5’s at seven-under. All of that, combined with his spectacular putting gave him a leg up on the competition.

Meanwhile, Spieth didn’t make the cut at the Players and prior to his collapse on the 12th hole during the final round of the Masters, had only one top 10 and one top 15 finish in six events. Of course this doesn’t mean that Spieth has “lost it” and his run is over, which is something many casual fans in the world of social media may assume, but it is cause for concern if he wants to surpass Day and reclaim the number one ranking.

Even though Spieth is hitting on average just 63.89% of greens in regulation, he is still in the top 15 in strokes gained tee-to-green. His putting, however, has dropped from ninth on Tour to 38th.

"“I was on my A-game for all four rounds in 2010 and three out of the four in 2011,” the U.S. Open champion added. “I just haven’t had my A-game this week since then. “Do I know why? Not necessarily. One time I think I wasn’t driving it well, the next I just didn’t make anything. I’m looking for it all to click. I would really like to win this tournament. “Maybe the first year or two as a professional I put too much pressure on myself to perform but I wouldn’t say that was the case last year and it won’t be the case this year.”"

It’s safe to assume that Spieth is definitely under pressure to perform after having had such unreal success at a young age, but there’s plenty of time left this season for him to right the ship and collect some wins.

Spieth is the odds on favorite to win this week at the Byron Nelson, even though his highest finish since 2010 came last year, a tie for 30th in the event, and he’s just behind Mr. Day (15/2) in odds to win the U.S. Open at 17/2 along with Rory McIlroy.

So let’s all take a deep breath and quit worrying about Spieth. He’ll be just fine.

[Quotes via ESPN]