Does Jordan Spieth have the toughest mind in golf?

2. Crucial first PGA Tour win

 

Spieth

Despite the doubts as he joined the paid ranks, Spieth turned out to be an immediate revelation in the professional arena, finishing 2nd in his third event and 7th in his fourth start to gain special temporary membership of the PGA Tour. It was a stunning introduction to the pro game, but if he wanted full PGA Tour membership he needed to win. Opportunity knocked at the 2013 John Deere Classic, but sealing the deal was by no means straightforward. The young star knew he had to hole his greenside bunker shot on the 72nd hole to have a chance of getting into a play-off. Cometh the hour, cometh the Jordan. “It took the perfect bounce and somehow went in,” recalls Spieth. “I couldn’t tell you how or why.”

Sieger says: “People mistake mental strength for the ability to endure pain or the ability to concentrate for hours on end, but that is not mental strength. Mental strength is the ability to focus and not be distracted from what you need to do. Some people call it ‘going into the zone’, and if you look at all the great champions they have the ability to make time stand still and give their entire focus to what they need to do. Make no mistake, the fact Spieth’s bunker shot went in was random, as he’d probably only hole one or two in 20 attempts from that bunker, but he believed he could do it and this put him in the best position to give himself a chance of success.” 

 

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