Trying Again: Spieth Gains Momentum After Byron Nelson Near-Miss

July 19, 2022July 18, 2022 Todd Jorgenson 0 Comments golf, Jordan Spieth, PHN, Sports

Preston Hollow golfer looks to continue his 2021 rebound in 2022

Though Jordan Spieth’s quest for a hometown title at the AT&T Byron Nelson eluded him again in May, at least the former Jesuit standout is getting closer.

The runner-up finish is Spieth’s best at the PGA Tour event in 11 appearances since debuting as a teenager in 2010. He finished at 25-under par over four rounds at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, one shot behind repeat champion K.H. Lee.

“I love playing at home,” Spieth said after his final round of 5-under 67. “I would love to win it someday. I had a good chance here. But it would be nice to close one out.”

While he still doesn’t have his Byron Nelson trophy, Spieth’s play is trending upward. The Preston Hollow resident won his previous Tour start at the RBC Heritage in April in South Carolina and subsequently earned his fourth top-10 finish of the season at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth.

Spieth, 28, bounced back from an extended stretch of mediocre form with a solid 2021 season, where his triumph at the Texas Open near San Antonio was his first in almost four years. A week later, he tied for third at The Masters.

I would love to win it someday
Jordan Spieth

Overall, Spieth posted nine top-10 finishes in 25 starts last season — including five times in the top three — and that momentum has carried over. He was part of the winning U.S. team in the Ryder Cup in September and placed second at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Spieth has won three major championships, most recently the British Open in 2017, and claimed the FedEx Cup title in 2015. But he carries a special affection for the large and supportive galleries at the Byron Nelson.

Spieth was encouraged by his near-miss at the TPC Craig Ranch, which hosted the tournament for the second straight year. It’s the same course where he secured his first top-10 showing at the event in 2021.

“I always want to play really well here,” Spieth said. “It’s obviously one that’s starred on the calendar as I’ve got so many of my friends that are able to come out. Maybe I can take a little confidence off the shifts in courses over the years, and maybe this one’s the best fit for me.”