Spieth’s putting lets him down as he falls behind in Pebble Pro-Am

Jordan Spieth’s best skill let him down on Friday in his second round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The world No. 1 did manage to improve on his opening-day score of 1-under 71 he shot at Spyglass Hill, but Spieth’s 2-under 69 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club left him disappointed – not only because the club’s Shore Course is the easiest of the three courses in the rotation but because he squandered a number of chances to score.

From tee to green, Spieth improved significantly from Thursday to Friday. He hit 12 of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. Spieth, however, needed 32 putts, just shy of averaging a two-putt per hole. Once again, the club’s poa annua putting surfaces flummoxed Spieth.

“I just couldn’t get it in the hole,” Spieth said. “I’ve struggled putting here at Monterey Peninsula the past few years. The hardest greens to putt, in my opinion, because they’re the softest. I had a couple putts today that I pretty much started walking in from 8-10 feet, and then they just kind of dive off or bounce off and lip out. It just happens.”

The common denominator between Spieth’s first two rounds is lousy play on the par 5s. He’s played the eight par 5s he’s seen so far this week in just 1 under par.

“From where I’ve been at, (where) I played them, they have pretty much all been par 4s for me, so it almost feels like I’m playing them 7 over,” Spieth said.

At 3 under par through two rounds, Spieth trails co-leaders Sung Kang and Hiroshi Iwata by eight shots. However, Spieth remains upbeat. His third round is at Pebble Beach on Saturday, and, if he puts up a good number, he’ll make the 54-hole with a reasonable chance to contend with another good one at Pebble on Sunday.

“I mean honestly, I’m only (eight) back and on Pebble, you get a couple good low rounds and you never know,” he said. “With conditions out here, I’m still in this tournament.”

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