Considering his results, the 2025 season hasn’t been all that memorable for Jordan Spieth. The golfer, who boasts three major titles, is scheduled to participate in his 17th tournament of the year at this week’s Wyndham Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season. To date, he has only secured two top-five and seven top-20 finishes.
Apart from a chase at the WM Phoenix Open in early February and a leap forward on Moving Day at the Memorial, which was cut short by a misstep near the end, Spieth has rarely been in contention during the weekends. Despite the lack of remarkable results, Spieth maintains a firm belief that the underlying elements of his game are faring better than the recorded outcomes suggest.
In fact, he is correct.
“I’ve encountered stretches of nine holes where I couldn’t sink a putt. These stretches could have easily turned into being 4 under, sparking a successful round. Alternatively, I’ve had instances with nine holes marked by flawed iron shots, which essentially took me out of contention, relegating me to finishes between seventh and 13th instead of allowing me to vie for the top spot,” Spieth noted before the Wyndham Championship.
“It boils down to maintaining consistency in both ball-striking and putting. While both aspects are performing above average and gaining shots on the field in general, my aim is to achieve consistent gains round after round,” he elaborated. “I am demonstrating the ability to do so consistently, be it during practice at home or in actual play here. It’s beginning to align lately, and now it’s about executing when it truly counts.”
Spieth is positioned at No. 16 on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained. Analyzing just the stats, it implies that he should be within the top 20 players this season. He holds a higher ranking than victors such as Ryan Fox, Viktor Hovland, Chris Gotterup, Kurt Kitayama, Harris English, and Andrew Novak, but his position in the FedEx Cup standings lags behind most of them.
As a matter of fact, Spieth is standing at what has evolved into the critical point before the postseason. Entering the Wyndham Championship ranked No. 50 in the season-long competition, the former FedEx Cup champion is in a somewhat unpredictable situation, given the significance tied to securing a top-50 finish in the standings.
Those who succeed and move on to the second postseason week, also known as the BMW Championship, will secure spots in all eight signature events for 2026. Having access to these tournaments offers a safety net for the top-performing players on the PGA Tour, due to the smaller fields, the absence of cuts, and the amplified prize funds and FedEx Cup points available.
Spieth participated in these tournaments in 2025, not due to his performance, but rather because of his well-recognized reputation. The 32-year-old relied on invitations from sponsors to guarantee his place on the tournament roster.
“I was not comfortable with seeking exemptions this year. I was fortunate to be granted a number of them, but there’s always uncertainty,” Spieth expressed. “And given how it’s structured, missing out on elevated events means missing out on opportunities to compete with the world’s top players, and you don’t want to miss any of those. That’s a significant reason why I’m participating here. When I decided to sit out, I saw myself dropping from 38th to 39th, eventually ending up at 48th, simply by not competing. It would be ideal to have a substantial boost this week to alleviate concerns for the following week, but I’m fully prepared for potential stress regarding that 50th spot next week. Ideally, a solid start this week or the next would significantly ease that stress.”
Spieth participated in the previous year’s Wyndham Championship amidst the revelation that he would undergo a procedure during the offseason to address discomfort in his left wrist. He aimed to enhance his postseason standing but was unsuccessful, missing the cut in his first appearance at Sedgefield Country Club in a span of four years. He ultimately did not qualify for the BMW Championship, due to another subpar showing at the St. Jude Championship the subsequent week.
This year, Spieth’s disposition and health are greatly improved. He is certain that he is moving toward enhanced and more consistent golf and anticipates returning to his former level after just one offseason. Nevertheless, Spieth would prefer to delay that offseason as much as possible, with this week’s Wyndham Championship possibly serving as a catalyst.
“The key to a strong start is to avoid overthinking and simply play the way I’ve been playing. However, there is an added element that I’d rather not have to consider, but it’s part of the situation this year,” Spieth continued. “I missed the opening month of the year and a couple of other events for various reasons, so … I am aiming to finish the year on a high note.
“I have a strong feeling that next year will be a very successful one for me. Everything is coming together. My health is good, and the mechanics of my putting are nearing perfection. A dedicated offseason should allow me to fine-tune things to the point where I can perform at my best. That’s my ultimate objective.”
