ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Jordan Spieth’s globe-trotting days are over, at least for the foreseeable future. ADVERTISING ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Jordan Spieth’s globe-trotting days are over, at least for the foreseeable future. Golf’s top-ranked player
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Jordan Spieth’s globe-trotting days are over, at least for the foreseeable future.
Golf’s top-ranked player has been on a worldwide tour over the past three months, playing in South Korea, China, Australia, Bahamas, Hawaii and in Abu Dhabi this week. It doesn’t stop there, either — he’s competing in Singapore next week on the Asian Tour before returning to the United States.
But Spieth said Sunday that all the travelling has left him “beat up, mentally and physically.”
“I’m very tired. I am,” a visibly jaded Spieth said after shooting a 4-under 68 in his final round at the Abu Dhabi Championship, to tie for fifth place. “I’m not 100 percent right now. It shows in certain places, you know.
“This week, the first day I was here I was striping it and since then I have been a little weak and my decision-making has been off. But we had a lot of fun times.”
It says much about Spieth’s ability that he finished so high in Abu Dhabi, five shots behind winner Rickie Fowler, without playing anywhere near his best.
“I was talking with Michael (Greller, his caddie) up the 18th fairway, saying: ‘Wow, birdie here, we’re definitely top 10, and I felt like we were off this week,” Spieth said. “I didn’t make anything … I didn’t get in a rhythm.”
The 22-year-old Spieth said midweeky that he decided to go on his “world tour” to see places he’d never seen before and experience new cultures. Furthering the Spieth brand when interest in him is at its highest will no doubt have been a factor, as well as the appearance money he gets paid to play in events like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
It has taken its toll, though.
“It won’t be something I do in the future, to bounce back and forth from Asia as much as we did. Or Australia,” Spieth said.
“I’m excited to get home,” Spieth added. “I’m excited for rest.”
It was Spieth’s first regular European Tour event and he said it felt like a “normal PGA Tour week.”
“Sorry if that insults people, on either side of the pond,” Spieth said.
