Golf

Jordan Spieth’s gruelling spell ends in semi-farcical fashion in Singapore

World No1’s wild schedule has seen him play in seven different countries since November

Jordan Spieth of the United States walks off the 18th hole after the final round of the SMBC Singapore Open. Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Ewan Murray
Mon Feb 1 2016 - 19:55

Even a stunning rise to No1 in the world has not made Jordan Spieth immune to learning curves. At the culmination of a spell that has proved the epitome of golfing globetrotting, the Texan admitted constantly crossing from the PGA Tour to the European Tour is a stiff ask.

Spieth has played in South Korea, China, Australia, Abu Dhabi, the Bahamas, Hawaii and, finally, Singapore since November. The last of those events concluded in semi-farcical fashion, Spieth having to return to the course on Monday simply to putt out on the 72nd hole for second place.

“It’s been a wild schedule,” Spieth said, “and what I’ve learned is that I won’t bounce back and forth from the States over here as often as I did. It’s just tough. I’m very pleased with how I performed with all of this travel. But there’s a lot of people on the European Tour and the Asian Tour who do this every single year, so for me to sit here and complain is tough [ON THEM].”

Spieth’s time in south-east Asia was affected by an injury to his caddie, Michael Greller. It meant his manager, Jay Danzi, had to take bag duties. Spieth will next appear at the more routine surroundings of Pebble Beach next weekend.

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“I’ll get enough rest,” the 22-year-old said. “I’m going to familiar places that I don’t have to play 36-54 holes prior to playing these events. Then I’ll have a bigger break in the middle of the season to get ready to really have my game once these compressed majors and the Olympics and the FedEx Cup play-offs and Ryder Cup are all there.

“It’ll almost feel like it’s a new season to me. We’re doing a good job to try of trying to separate a part of the season to make it almost kind of two halves versus a complete continuation of no rest.”

In Dubai , Rory McIlroy took advantage of a relaxation in European Tour rules to wear shorts for a pre-Desert Classic round in the company of Oliver Fisher. McIlroy will be the defending champion at the Emirates Club from Thursday.

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