Jordan Spieth opens FedEx Cup playoffs with his worst round of the year

Jordan Spieth, who had yet to settle in comfortably atop the official world golf rankings, may well pass his week-old No. 1 spot back to Rory McIlroy on Sunday.

Spieth, who carded five bogeys and a double to shoot a very un-Spieth-like 4-over 74 in Thursday’s opening round of The Barclays, needs a top-14 finish if he is to retain his position. And that’s despite the fact that McIlroy is not even playing in this week’s first of four FedEx Cup playoff games.

Spieth, playing with early clubhouse leader Bubba Watson and Jason Day, could not get on track on the Plainfield CC course, as shots like this one on the No. 3 hole (his 12th of the day) illustrate.

That double-bogey 5 came after a three-jack on the previous hole. It was his worst round, relative to par, of the entire season.

Following the round, Spieth said that after his drives, which hit an impressive 11 of 14 fairways, it was the “worst round he played in years.” If he hits that many fairways he should be near the top of the leaderboard, but Thursday was a mess. He also confessed that he didn’t like the course and it didn’t suit his eye -- not the most positive endorsement for the rest of the week.

On the flip side, if Spieth can rally in the next three days, he could set a new money mark on the PGA Tour.

Heading into Friday nine shots back of Watson, the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champ has to hope he can right the ship and find the smoother sailing that had him at 2-under on his outgoing nine. If not, he’ll head into next week’s Deutsche Bank Championship at No. 2.

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