The Rise and Fall of a Golf Phenom

Ten years after his dominant 2015 Masters victory, Jordan Spieth remains one of golf's most compelling figures. His relationship with Augusta National Golf Club has been both triumphant and tragic, filled with moments of brilliance and heartbreaking collapses.

The 2015 Masterclass

Spieth's 2015 performance was nothing short of historic:

• Set 36-hole scoring record (64-66)
• Led wire-to-wire
• Won by 4 strokes at age 21
• Became second-youngest Masters champion

"I was almost rushing to get in instead of milking it and doing victory laps," Spieth recalls of his final walk up 18. "With the stress of carrying the lead from day one, I was just ready for it to be over."

The Slump Years: What Went Wrong?

After reaching world No. 1 and winning three majors by age 24, Spieth's game mysteriously declined:

Key Statistics:

• Putting ranking fell from top-10 to 155th
• Dropped as low as 92nd in world rankings
• Went nearly 4 years without a win (2017-2021)

"I became less focused on the things that made me great," Spieth admits about his swing changes. His longtime coach Cameron McCormick noted: "He became a more secondary instructor-coach."

The Augusta Factor: Why Hope Persists

Despite recent struggles, Augusta National remains Spieth's sanctuary:

Masters Performance:

• 1 win (2015)
• 2 runner-up finishes
• 5 top-5 finishes
• Scores ~1 stroke better per round than expected

"I just have a good feel about the place because I know I don't need my best stuff to play well," Spieth says. He's birdied every hole at Augusta except the 11th in tournament play.

The Road to Redemption

Spieth enters the 2025 Masters with renewed optimism:

• Finally healthy after 2023 wrist surgery
• Returning to his "DNA" swing
• Drawing inspiration from Ben Crenshaw's 11-year gap between wins

As fellow pro Smylie Kaufman told him: "This second act of your career isn't done yet. The world is waiting to see what you'll accomplish."

The Legacy Question

At 31, Spieth stands at a career crossroads. His 2015 season remains one of the top-10 PGA Tour campaigns since 1983 (per Data Golf), but can he add to his major tally?

"Some of the bad I remember clearly and a lot of the good I remember clearly," Spieth reflects. "Then I think, 'This is still my favorite tournament in the world - how can I make more memories here?'"