Jordan Spieth was once seen as the heir to Tiger Woods, a player who could carry the PGA Tour into a new era. But his career has not quite followed the path many had in mind.
After three majors before turning 24 and an Open Championship win in 2017, Spieth looked well on his way to a career grand slam. Many thought double-digit major titles were just a matter of time.
With another 13 wins on the PGA Tour, 10 of which came before we even got to 2018, Spieth seemed destined to be one of the greatest of all time.
Since then, though, he has managed just two more victories, with his most recent coming at the RBC Heritage in 2022.
And when you look back at some of those early predictions about Spieth’s future, one comment from Bob Harig now stands out more than ever.
What Bob Harig once said about Jordan Spieth and the Hall of Fame
As in any sport, it is easy to get ahead of ourselves with young stars and put them into categories they have not fully earned yet.
Spieth found himself in that situation. Back then, his early success made it easy to believe he was on track for an all-time great career.
But when asked in 2017 if the Dallas native had already built a Hall of Fame case, respected golf journalist Bob Harig offered a perspective that now seems eerily accurate.
“No, because if that is all he accomplishes, and that obviously seems unlikely, then his career would be judged by how he did so little after a great start,” Harig told ESPN.
“The numbers themselves should not be Hall of Fame calibre, but we’ve seen a lot of players go in with credentials that seem less than Hall-worthy.”
If things do not change for Spieth soon, there is every chance he ends up exactly where Harig predicted all those years ago.
Is Jordan Spieth’s best golf already behind him?
Right now, it is hard to argue otherwise.
Spieth has not won in three years, injuries have started to crop up, and his frustration is clear every time he steps onto the course. All signs suggest his prime may be behind him.
But there are still reasons to stay optimistic.
He is only 32. There is still plenty of time for Spieth to address what is not working, get past any mental hurdles, and recover from the injuries that have been holding him back.
The Dallas native still has time on his side to try to turn things around. The talent has never been in question, but with the depth of competition on today’s tour, it is difficult to predict when – or if – another win will come.
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