Opinion & Analysis

Golf has a cruel way of exposing a human, doesn’t it?

Published

10 years ago

Apr 11, 2016

There’s no feeling like embarrassment.

Anger is easily overcome, especially in golf. Maybe you break a club, throw a golf ball into a lake, or mutter a four-letter word. But the feeling doesn’t last very long after you pick up your broken golf shaft and your face cools down from beat red to its normal hue.

Disappointment is a little more difficult. You had expectations for yourself, and for whatever reason you didn’t meet those goals. It hurts, but the feeling isn’t forever. Especially if you worked hard and gave it everything you could.

But embarrassment. That’s the tough one. You can’t breathe, your knees get weak, your body starts to tingle and you just can’t wait to just get away from everyone and everything. It’s an unforgettable punch to your psyche and soul.

We all saw what appeared to be the ultimate form of embarrassment from Jordan Spieth on Sunday at the 2016 Masters at Augusta National. It was difficult to watch those two golf balls find a watery grave on hole No. 12; the second-hand embarrassment was enough to make you cover your eyes or turn away. And Spieth assuredly wanted nothing more than to hide under Hogan’s Bridge when he rinsed that second ball.

While the 22 year old — a would-be college senior — handled the remainder of the round with professionalism and class, and even left himself with a glimmer of hope down the stretch, it was clear he didn’t feel anger or disappointment, but utter embarrassment.

Walking up hole No. 18, with the tournament and the green jacket officially out of reach, he scoured over and put his hands on his head. I’m no mind reader, but you could almost hear him saying, “What have I done?”

In his short-lived golf career filled with dominance at every level — from junior golf, to amateur and college and into the pros — this may have been the first time Spieth has completely melted down on the golf course, or at least the most public; a quadruple bogey at golf’s most famous hole, during the most watched golf event in the world.

How can you not feel for the kid? The Michael Jordan crying faces on Twitter are good for a quick chuckle, but don’t forget the subject of your amusement is a 22 year old kid going through one of the worst experiences of his life.

And it will be more than interesting to see how the rest of the year plays out for Spieth, who admitted that this loss will take some time to overcome.

Will he bounce back and win a major this year? Or will it take years for Spieth to regain dominance in the majors?

Golf is a funny sport, where confidence takes years to build and mere moments to shatter. It has an uncanny way of humanizing and exposing is victims. And if Sunday proved one thing, Jordan Spieth is indeed human.

I feel for you, Jordan.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

22 Comments

Dave

Apr 13, 2016 at 10:09 pm

I agree with Mikee. If that had been Tiger he would have been cussing and blaming on the gallery, or his caddy, or something or someone else. Spieth is handling himself surprisingly well for his age. I admire him!

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Jacob

Apr 13, 2016 at 3:37 pm

Golf like life can play cruel tricks on you. My old man always used to say..in golf when you are playing good you don’t think you’ll ever play bad. And when you play bad you don’t think you’ll ever play good. But I think these 2 shots Jordan hit personifies why I play the game of golf. He’s arguably the best golfer in the world and he’s hitting shots like any regular amateur in the world. Literally playing golf you have to grind it out on every shot. One shot can win anything, but one shot can lose it all.

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David Camp

Apr 13, 2016 at 10:35 am

Hey what has been said here particularly at the end of this article is so true. How will Jordan come out of this on the other side? How long will it haunt him? Every human reacts differently. We have to cut him some slack if it takes him longer to recover than maybe someone else. If you recall, Rickie Fowler was flying high this year coming off a win in Dubai and seemingly having The Waste Management in his pocket with 2 holes to play when he too ,found a watery grave unexpectedly. Afterward in the post interview he “melted down” and I would say hasn’t really recovered yet. Just look at his Masters performance. Tour level golf is hard. Play at Augusta this year was impossible. Lets let these fine men recover in at their own pace and cut them some slack.

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Sad Smizzle

Apr 12, 2016 at 7:52 pm

Please do fall on my sword

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- Sad Smizzle
  
  Apr 13, 2016 at 2:50 am
  
  Yeah that’s about all you’ve got left. Don’t worry, we’ll be rid of you very soon
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Sad Smizzle
    
    Apr 13, 2016 at 12:38 pm
    
    Yes I always talk big, glad you enjoy being at your small size
    
    Reply Report comment
- Al Czervik
  
  Apr 13, 2016 at 3:13 pm
  
  This is literally the only time I have ever rolled on the floor and laughed my arse off. Still wiping the tears from my eyes…
  
  Reply Report comment
cb

Apr 12, 2016 at 1:29 pm

Lets not forget it wasnt too long ago when we saw a 21 year old blow his lead mid way through the final round at the masters. That same 21 year old went on to win the US open that year. If Rory can bounce back so will Jordan. Jordan has a great future ahead of him and this will just be a learning moment for him.

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- Mark Donaghy
  
  Apr 13, 2016 at 6:51 am
  
  I agree. McIlroy’s snap hook on 10 was as bad as Speith’s rinses on 12. I guess Rory shared similar emotions of being annoyed, frustrated and embarrassed but he bounced back in style at the Congressional just a few months later. Jordan will be just fine, he’ll have learned all sorts of lessons from Sunday. Knowing the talent he has he will use it as Rory did to his advantage.
  
  Reply Report comment
alexdub

Apr 12, 2016 at 12:17 pm

I think that one of the best things that can happen to a golfer is to experience a situation where they realize their own humanity. Jordan will be better off for what happened on Sunday.

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Jaosn

Apr 12, 2016 at 7:56 am

My son (10 years old) and I were glued to the TV watching Jordan. Then he put those two ball in the water on 12… my son was heart broken for him and almost could not watch the rest of the tournament. I told him this is the time to see what Jordan is truly made of. This the time when you will be able to see the person and the champion he is. Watch him… see how he handles the hardest day he has ever experienced in golf in front of millions of people… watch him. And what does Jordan do? Just what you hope he would do. He fought hard to come back and when that came up short he handled himself with dignity. He answered all those painful questions when clearly he would have wanted to be anywhere else.
I looked at my son when it was all over and said Jordan’s 2 majors are nice but what he has shown today is what makes him a true champion… never forget it.

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- Shin
  
  Apr 12, 2016 at 10:47 am
  
  Hey Jason.. I never ever replied on a post before on any blog. But your post moved me. It reminded me that true wisdom is in the right perspective. I have a 8 month old.. and I hope to God that I can guide my little one like you did this weekend. Thank you for posting this.
  
  Reply Report comment
- JTW
  
  Apr 14, 2016 at 3:26 pm
  
  Thanks for this Jason
  Nice teaching moment
  
  Reply Report comment
Kna

Apr 12, 2016 at 3:35 am

How he holds himself together and do all the interviews and express himself so clearly – he’s already over it, planning for the next one and the rest of the year.

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Swjake83

Apr 11, 2016 at 9:36 pm

Yea he choked. He still finished T-2. I don’t know this for a fact, but he has to have one of the highest average finishes there ever so far. Sure he was embarrassed. Sure he felt he gave it away. Sure he is mad. Sure none of us really understand it when your one of the best humans on the planet at a certain skill. Let’s just remember, he has gone 1st, T-2nd in two years. Jordan will be fine. He will get motivated, work even harder and now the rest of the field is probably in more trouble.

This is not like Norman or Johnson. Spieth has already been there and won, and you know it won’t be his last chance either.

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- MarkB A
  
  Apr 11, 2016 at 9:41 pm
  
  I love all these idiots calling him a choker. Jordan has done more at age 21 then all of us will do in our life times. He almost won 4 majors last year. He made probably $35 million last year. He is a solid young man and he will be fine and will keep winning.
  
  I am very happy for for Danny Willet. He played great gold.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - timbleking
    
    Apr 12, 2016 at 4:52 am
    
    This is what I was telling myself. Gimme the money he won last year and I’d be glad to putt 2 balls into the water at the 12th.
    
    Reply Report comment
Mr B

Apr 11, 2016 at 9:11 pm

He will win big again this year no doubt.

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Timmy

Apr 11, 2016 at 8:17 pm

Thank you for saying that. The amount of people who know nothing about golf yet make fun of him for his collapse is astounding.

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Jason

Apr 11, 2016 at 8:14 pm

Very, very well said. He’s a 22 year old kid (yes a multimillionaire but still a kid). He goes about things the right way with all the class you could ever want from someone in his position. The Masters meltdown will take a while to recover from but hopefully it’s a mere speed bump in what should be an incredible golf career.

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Mikee

Apr 11, 2016 at 7:59 pm

Yup……golf is sure like that……all alone out there…..no reliever, no substitution, no second string or 6th man , no “time out”…..but Spieth is enviable for handling everything with class, a brave face and a sportsmanship demonstrated by few professional athletes (ie. Cam Newton). How few of us could have handled that situation under ordinary day to day golf, let alone on golf’s largest stage and at age 22. An example for all.

Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Apr 13, 2016 at 10:41 am
  
  Well said.
  
  Reply Report comment

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