Dear Jordan Spieth,
A couple days have passed since The Masters, and it is still stuck on my mind. Watching you, my favorite golfer, 22-year old Jordan Spieth fall on Hole 12 was gut wrenching as a fan. What your family went thru, I cannot even imagine. We both are the same age, which made this event very relatable because I felt like I was in your shoes.
An absolute meltdown, a debacle, an utter collapse, all have been phrases to describe Hole 12. You made a slight comeback and I thought, "he is going to do it, he has some magic left!' But it did not work out that way. You tied for 2nd, and lost to Danny Willett of England. The Masters is describe as "A Tradition Unlike Any Other" and that slogan is spot on. Because as tradition, if you win the previous year and do not repeat, you have to present the current years winner the Green Jacket.
You had an impressive five shot lead when things made a turn for the worse, a quadruple-bogey 7 at the 12th. "Big picture? This one will hurt," is what you said at the end of the championship. As a Track Athlete here at Kent State University, I knew what was going thru your mind (not on that big of a stage as The Masters), but it hit me; everyone of us in our own lives, has had our own Hole 12 meltdown.
I have been passed with five meters to go to lose a State Championship in high school, I gave up a reversal with 10 seconds left in Sectionals to get beat out (I should have pinned this kid easily), I have had the baton knocked out of my hand at the historic Drake Relays with 50 meters to go in the 4x400 meter relay (Thanks Baylor).
Whether it is in sports, or life, each and everyone of us has had a Hole 12 meltdown, just not on this big of stage or nationally televised. Many took to Twitter to take jabs at you and troll you, others offered sympathy and attempted to bring your spirits up.
Those who took jabs...
Those who offered to bring you up...
Watching you hand away the Green Jacket must have felt like your world crashing down on you, but you did something that was great to see; you lost with class. As an athlete, it is tough to lose, especially when it is your own fault. Now you could have half-assed putting the jacket on or just not shown up. But you put away your feelings and manned up. As my father said, "You win with class, and you lose with class". I thank you for that, not only was it great to see, but it was great for your other fans, family members, and little kids watching you who look up to you.
This will stick with you for a long time, as it should. But that does not mean you are done. You still have The Players Tournament, The U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and even the Olympics.
Before I end, I would like to say this; do not count yourself out, you will rebound. You have your family, fellow players, and tons of fans waiting to cheer you on when you get back on the green. Although you have been knocked down, you will rise. Because you are a champion, a fierce competitor, a winner, and because you are Jordan F*cking Spieth.
Your fan,
Daniel Young
