Spieth survives opening Valspar 76 to make cut; 7 back of lead

Small goals.

After an opening 5-over 76 at the Valspar Championship on Thursday, Jordan Spieth had a small, albeit not so simple, goal for Friday: play well enough to make the cut in the first of five title defenses in 2016. He did that, shooting 3-under 68 on Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course to land a weekend tee time. He trails co-leaders Will MacKenzie and Steve Stricker by seven shots heading into Saturday’s third round.

Spieth was better in almost every facet of the game on Friday compared to the Thursday disappointment. He hit four more greens and chipped in a couple of times, helping his strokes gained tee-to-green figure to turn around by almost six shots. On one of the chip-ins, a bellied wedge from the fringe on the fifth hole, came after Spieth did something he’d never done.

“First time I ever bellied a wedge in my life,” he said. “I think I may keep on doing it if I get that opportunity. Normally I putt those. I got to get halfway up on the ball here. It was sitting down a little in the grass. That was obviously very fortunate.”

The world No. 1 still isn’t putting up to his standard, but he also knows the reseeded Copperhead has historically proven difficult inside of 15 feet.

“Very difficult to make putts on these greens because you have to hit them a lot harder than you’re used to,” he said. “Still didn’t get any putts to go today. Lucky I chipped in a couple times to make up for it.”

Now that Spieth made the weekend, what’s his next small goal? Close the gap on Saturday.

“I can get there. I’m only 2 over,” Spieth said. “That takes couple of solid rounds. Maybe 6 under par.

“So it’s not going to be easy but if I can finally get those putts from 4 to about 15 feet that are normally a strength of mine, to fall instead of lip out, then we’ve got a good opportunity.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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