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Thursday 11 april 2019
Spieth hopeful Masters memories can help him end slump

By DOUG FERGUSON His worst finish was a tie behind the winner, ex- couple days in the tee-to- had to figure out why I did
AP Golf Writer for 11th in 2017, and even cept for the three times he green game. It’s just a mat- them and how to train it
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger then, he started the final missed the cut. ter of trust in the stuff that back.”
Woods is a winner again, Augusta awaits.
making him even more ap- McIlroy is among the top
pealing at the Masters. five players in the world
“I’ve worked my way back who have a chance to
into one of the players that leave the Masters with a
can win events,” he said. green jacket and the No.
Rory McIlroy is the betting 1 ranking. For such a small
favorite — perhaps even field — 87 players, six of
the sentimental favorite. them amateurs — the tour-
Facing a fifth chance at nament is wide open. It’s
completing the career been that way for years.
Grand Slam at Augusta The difference is that Spieth
National, he has never usually could be counted
started a year as well as this on to be part of that mix.
one. McIlroy won The Play- And he might be again.
ers Championship, played “I feel I’m on the rise right
in the final group in three now. That’s just the way I
other events and has yet to feel,” Spieth said. “I don’t
finish out of the top 10 in his think I need results to prove
seven PGA Tour events. anything otherwise. I know
“I’m happy with where ev- where my game is at and I
erything is — body, mind, know that good things are
game,” McIlroy said. coming soon.”
Such words sound as sooth- But there are far more whis-
ing to Jordan Spieth as pers that this slump is not
birds nestled in the Georgia anything four days — or
pines. Any other year, Spi- two — at Augusta National
eth would be a big part of can cure; or that he’ll nev-
the conversation when the er play as well as his 2015
83rd Masters Tournaments season at age 21 — win-
begins on Thursday. ning the Masters and U.S.
“I don’t feel like there’s any Open, missing the British
added pressure this week,” Jordan Spieth hits from the bunker to the second green during his practice round for the Masters Open playoff by one shot
at Augusta National Golf Club on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Augusta, Ga.
Spieth said. “I feel kind of Associated Press and finishing second at the
under the radar, which is PGA Championship.
really nice.” round just two shots be- It would figure that if any I’m working on, and I don’t “It’s frustrating to watch
Maybe not for long. hind. No wonder he calls golf course could cure feel like I have to play well.” from this side everything
Not since Woods has any the Masters “my favorite whatever is ailing him, it He is climbing out of a that’s being said and writ-
young golfer established tournament in the whole would be Augusta Nation- hole, and either the way ten about him, because
himself as a master at Au- world.” al. out is taking longer than he I know he’s close,” Justin
gusta National. In five ap- That’s what makes this year Spieth is exuding patience, would have thought, or the Thomas said. “He’s going to
pearances, starting with so intriguing for Spieth. if not confidence. hole was deeper than he play well this week. I really
then 20-year-old Spieth’s The next big thing in golf “My expectations are high ever imagined. do think that. He’s shown
runner-up finish in his Mas- when he won the British this week. I feel great about Most telling was what Spi- strides all year. Just hasn’t
ters debut, he has a green Open two years ago for the state of my game right eth said at the start of the been able to put it all to-
jacket, a share of the tour- the third leg of the Grand now,” said Spieth, coming year, when he returned gether over the course of
nament scoring record, two Slam, the 25-year-old Texan off a 73-72 weekend in the from two-month break that four days. But I would say
silver medals for second is now in one big slump. Texas Open that took him included his wedding. his record at this course
place and a near historic He hasn’t won since. He from a tie for second to a “I almost took ignorance speaks for itself. ... But the
closing round last year un- hasn’t finished in the top 10 tie for 30th. “I feel like my as bliss in a lot of parts of thing about this game is
til he clipped a tree with his in his last 15 tournaments, recent results aren’t a tell my game,” he said. “I did you have to let it happen.”
tee shot on the 18th hole, and even more jarring is of where my game is actu- things well, but I didn’t There’s no better time than
made bogey and had to that he has finished an av- ally at, and I feel I’ve made know why. I just did them. now, no better course than
settle for a 64. erage of just over 14 shots a lot of strides in the last Then they got off, and so I this one.q

Masters Notebook: Matt Wallace wins par-3 contest

By TIM DAHLBERG Masters, leaving him tied with Lyle handing the victory to the 28-year- thought he had won the par-3
AP Sports Writer at 5-under 22. The playoff rotated old Englishman playing in his first tournament, but officials discov-
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Matt Wallace between Nos. 8 and 9, with both Masters. He is the ninth player — ered a scoring error that forced the
won the par-3 contest at Augusta players making par on the first and the first since 2013 — to win the playoff.
National by acing the eighth hole two holes. That took them back to par-3 contest on his initial try. In all, there were four aces on the
and winning a three-hole playoff the eighth, where Wallace nearly But also worth noting: No winner of day, including Shane Lowry at No.
with 61-year-old Sandy Lyle. made another hole-it-one, plop- the par-3 has gone on to capture 2, Mark O’Meara on No. 5 and
Wallace’s hole-in-one was one ping his tee shot less than a foot the green jacket. Devon Bling at No. 7. Wallace’s
of four in Wednesday’s family- from the cup. Lyle, the 1988 champion, is play- hole-in-one was the 100th since
friendly event that precedes the Lyle knocked his shot in the water, ing in his 38th Masters. It was initially the contest began in 1960.q