Spieth claims to have banished Augusta demons
After a dramatic collapse in 2016, Jordan Spieth feels he has laid his demons to rest at Augusta National ahead of the Masters.
Jordan Spieth says he has banished his Augusta demons after recording two birdies at the troublesome 12th during a recent round with friends.
After capturing a green jacket to win his first major in 2015, Spieth's defence of his Masters title spiralled out of control in the final round last year as he blew a five-stroke lead.
Bogeys at 10 and 11 began his demise but it was at the short 12th where the wheels finally came off, as he carded a shocking quadruple-bogey seven.
Spieth's tee shot found Rae's Creek and he was back in the water again with a poor pitch for the green, the Texan's challenge faltering to allow surprise winner Danny Willett to secure his own first major.
With the 2017 Masters only a couple of months away, Spieth has been keen to put that nightmare behind him, and revealed he had played the course again recently, having much more success.
"I went there and played there in December," he told a media conference.
"First time back. I was very nervous when I got on 12 tee, and I hit an eight iron over the bunker to about 15 feet.
"I was pumped to hit the green, and then I hit my putt and it just about stopped short on the front lip and fell in for two. I probably gave like a big fist pump. I was walking around with my hands up, like 'demon's gone'.
"And I went back the next day. We played it the next morning and I hit a nine iron this time to a left pin, and it landed about three feet beyond the hole and it was really, really soft, and it sucked back and almost went in, right on the lip to about this far.
"So I got two twos out of number 12 the first time back. Last two times I played the hole, I made birdie.
"I saw the chairman and requested some footage, because somebody was watching, I'm sure, when that happened. I haven't received it yet."