Jordan Spieth calls No. 18 ‘dumbest hole I’ve ever played in my life’

Jordan Spieth was cruising along at the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard on Friday, thanks to four birdies in his first eight holes. That’s when the S.S. Grand Slam momentarily ran aground on a sand bar.

More precisely, Spieth’s second shot found a troublesome lie in a bunker, which he proceeded to shank into a side-hill lie in some of that pesky knee-high fescue.

The next shot did not go any better and the reigning Masters champ had to settle for a double-bogey six that bumped him down to 4-under for the week, and a shot behind 18-hole co-leaders Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson.

The three-time PGA Tour winner was not especially pleased with the way things played out.

Fox Sports analyst Brad Faxon chalked up Spieth’s momentary moment of pique to youth.

“He’s a 21-year-old,” said Faxon, adding that Spieth’s fiery nature was what made him a major champion. “He has some spirit out there and that’s what really makes you a good player.”

It turned out to be just a minor blip on the round. Spieth continued his victory march toward the second of four major victories in the same calendar year with a birdie on No. 10. He drilled a tremendous par putt at No. 5 -- his 13th hole of the day -- and barring a collapse coming in, will be in the thick of the lead heading into the weekend.