Let me address the question upfront: Jordan Spieth hasn’t fully returned to his peak form—at least not yet. But during Saturday’s Truist Championship, he certainly played like it was 2017 once again.
The former World No. 1, three-time major champion, and his own on-course commentator had been stuck at even par for the first 42 holes of the tournament. When he stepped onto the seventh hole, the current World No. 50 had just made a bogey and needed a spark.
Spieth reached the 553-yard par-5 in two shots, leaving himself a steep 66-foot uphill eagle putt. He struck the ball firmly, watched it climb the ridge, take a subtle left turn, rattle the flagstick, and drop into the cup for an eagle.
The crowd erupted for one of the PGA Tour’s most beloved stars—a player who has managed only two Tour wins since his last major in 2017. But don’t tell Spieth the calendar says 2026. In a nod to his memorable Open Championship victory at Royal Birkdale, he calmly turned to caddie Michael Greller, pointed at him, and motioned toward the hole. He walked to the 8th tee as Greller retrieved the ball from the cup.
This moment echoes the 2017 Open, when Spieth famously shouted “Go get that” to Greller after draining a 48-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole—a stretch that included a bogey after driving into the range, then stuffing his approach on the 14th to regain the lead.
Why does this matter now? Next week marks Spieth’s 10th opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship, held this year at Aronimink near Philadelphia. Though he hasn’t won since the 2022 RBC Heritage, this season has shown signs of a resurgence. He currently sits 37th in the FedEx Cup standings and made multiple equipment changes last week, including the first golf ball switch of his career. Those changes set him up for a strong recent performance before Cam Young ran away with the event.
This week, the driver and ball adjustments have paid off—Spieth ranks third in the field in SG: Off-The-Tee, a category that once troubled him. The eagle jump-started a round of three-under 68, moving him into the top 30 as of this writing. He may not contend Sunday at Quail Hollow (the lead was 10 under as he finished his third round), but all the momentum could come together next week. The elusive Wanamaker Trophy feels closer than expected.
As golf fans, we can only hope. And for those keeping track, this year’s Open Championship returns to Birkdale as well.
