It’s hard not to remember — and cringe at the thought of — Jordan Spieth’s Masters-stunting 8 on the par-3 12th in last April’s final round. It’s a seminal moment in Masters history.
However, Spieth went on to win at Colonial in May for his first PGA Tour win in his native Texas. Then, in November, he pulled out a playoff win in the Australian Open, despite not having his best stuff.
While he’ll never get completely over what happened at Augusta National, Spieth seems to have moved on well from the Masters meltdown. In fact, Spieth has since returned to the Georgia club and exacted a little revenge from the perilous short hole.
Speaking Wednesday at the SBS Tournament of Champions, Spieth described a December trip to the club to play with members. He played from the Member Tees during the trip, except on the 12th hole.
“I was very nervous when I got on 12 tee, and I hit an 8-iron over the bunker to about 15 feet,” Spieth said. “Greens were a little slower, and I left a lot of putts short.
“In the group, I was like, there was no chance I was leaving this short and I hit this putt to about 15, 18 feet. I was pumped to hit the green, and then I hit my putt and it just about stopped short on the front lip and fell in for 2. I probably gave like a big fist pump. I was walking around with my hands up, like demon’s gone.”
Spieth wasn’t done.
“And I went back the next day. We played it the next morning and I hit a 9-iron this time to a left pin, and it landed about 3 feet beyond the hole and it was really, really soft, and it sucked back and almost went in, right on the lip,” Spieth said.
“So I got two 2s out of No. 12 the first time back. Last two times I played the hole, I made birdie.”
Spieth was so jazzed about what happened, he approached club chairman Billy Payne about getting some video of the birdies — because there are digital eyes on the course.
“Saw the Chairman and requested some footage,” Spieth said, “because somebody was watching, I’m sure, when that happened.”
Now, the question is if he can take that exorcism back to Augusta in April. Then again, maybe he doesn’t need it. In three Masters starts, he’s won and finished second twice.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports
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