Jordan Spieth answers adversity, climbs leaderboard at The Barclays

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — There are moments during rounds that can send one forward into contention or backward toward the cutline.

Jordan Spieth faced such a moment early in Friday’s second round of The Barclays, the first of four postseason events to decide the winner of the $10 million bonus and the FedExCup.

Spieth moved forward.

The defending FedExCup champion, who missed the cut in the first two events of last year’s playoffs, made it to the weekend of The Barclays this year because of what occurred on the tee box of the 11th hole. Spieth had finished poorly in Thursday’s first round and shot even-par 71. Starting on the 10th Friday, Spieth was steaming after he made double-bogey 6.

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That put him on the cutline at the time.

Then Michael Greller, his caddie, had a chat with his boss.

“I really credit Michael a lot for stepping in there and being a real positive voice, saying, ‘You got really screwed on that shot. You did exactly what we wanted to do on the second shot on 10. Let's find the fairway here, get into rhythm and pretend that didn't happen,’” Spieth said.

It took a few holes but Spieth started birdieing his way away from the cutline and toward the top of the leaderboard.

“I kept getting frustrated,” he said. “Finally I just noticed that I was angry. Noticed that it was probably because I was a little groggy from not sleeping much. But whatever it was, on 17 I started smiling going to 18 and that was the difference maker. It's easy to say that with the way the scorecard was afterward, but it's true. That's what happened today.”

Spieth played his last 10 holes in 6 under to move to 4 under through 36 holes. That stretch was highlighted by a 6-iron from 206 yards to two feet for a tap-in eagle in the par-5 fourth hole.

“I knew I needed all of it and I smashed it,” Spieth said. “It's as good of a 6-iron as I've hit.”

Now Spieth gets to play the weekend at The Barclays. If another moment arises where he could wreck his round or continue pushing the leaders, Greller will be by his side. And anger will be inside him, which isn’t a bad thing.

“I think it's healthy to be upset when you don't execute to the level that you expect to execute on, or anywhere near it on a couple of those wedges,” Spieth said. “But I still throw it away by the next shot. I may be angry walking up and kind of talking to Michael about whatever it may be, my swing or what I did there, the wind. But by the time I hit the next one, it's over.”

Follow Steve DiMeglio on Twitter @Steve_DiMeglio.