Jordan Spieth’s practice round footage from Royal Birkdale just dropped, and golf fans are absolutely losing their minds, with one fan straight up calling his play "legit horrible." This isn't the kind of prep you want to see heading into The Open, especially from a guy who once dominated this very course.
The On-Course Meltdown That Sparked Fan Fury
The Golf Channel posted a video of Spieth’s practice at Royal Birkdale, and it was rough. Usually, these clips showcase pros looking effortless, but this one showed Spieth spraying the ball all over the place. He was taking provisionals after nearly every shot because his play was just that poor. Fans immediately jumped on it. One fan blasted on X, "l mean this is legit horrible why even post this," and another echoed that frustration, adding, "Dawg why are we taking mulligans on every wayward shot and club-twirling terrible shots?" It didn’t get any better. A behind-the-scenes video from Titleist’s social media showed Spieth hitting his approach shot straight into a bunker, shouting after his ball. The frustration was palpable. He capped it off with, "You got to strike it unbelievable around this place." That quote didn't calm anyone, either. One fan reacted hard, posting, "Yet another video where he’s giving us zero hope. Just listen to that last quote from Spieth at the very end of the video. Come on, man. Already making up excuses. Already talking to his golf ball (in a practice round). He’s cooked." Ouch.High Hopes Crashed by Hard Reality?
Think back to 2017. That was the last time The Open Championship was at Royal Birkdale, and who claimed the Claret Jug? Jordan Spieth. It was his third major championship win, putting him just a PGA Championship away from a career grand slam, all at just 23 years old. Fast forward nine years, and man, how everything has changed. Since that Open victory, Spieth has only won twice, and he hasn't seen a victory since 2022. There were massive hopes for his season when it started, but right now, he looks further from his old form than ever. Despite the shocking practice rounds, Spieth himself actually feels better than his results show. Speaking before this year's Open, he sounded frustrated but still optimistic. He believes his game is "better than it was four or five years ago when I got back to top 10 in the world." He thinks the more difficult venue will force him to "really dial in mentally," seeing it as "a really good opportunity this week." Spieth claims he's "way more optimistic than I’ve been at a lot of different points in my career," and that he has "a lot of great golf in front of me." He’s riding a "stay-the-course mentality," hoping results are just "delayed." Can Spieth channel that internal optimism and prove everyone, including himself, that his game is truly better than what the fans are seeing? Or will his struggles continue at the very place he once conquered? The Open is here, and it's time to see if the lid can finally pop off the hole for him.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.