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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jordan Spieth was not planning to become involved within the dialogue on the seventh gap Thursday on the Gamers Championship when he noticed Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland discussing McIlroy’s drop.
However he did.
And mentioned Friday perhaps he shouldn’t have.
“It was like Viktor was having the dialog, and I solely walked over as a result of it appeared like, ‘Hey, let’s simply be certain that every part is all proper,’” mentioned Spieth, who spoke for the primary time in regards to the controversy after declining to talk following Thursday’s opening spherical.
“I wasn’t even planning on getting concerned and perhaps shouldn’t have. But it surely appeared like they had been perhaps at a sticking level. So I believed perhaps I may assist.”
McIlroy hit two balls into the water Thursday at No. 18 and seven, however it was his second on the seventh gap that result in a heated change between McIlroy and Spieth. The confusion on No. 7 was whether or not McIlroy’s drive landed above or beneath the crimson line earlier than bouncing into the water, which might have made a distinction in the place he dropped.
Rory mentioned he was “fairly snug” that it landed above the road. Spieth needed to make certain. That dialogue was picked up by the tv broadcast.
Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland focus on McIlroy’s drop on No. 7.
Rory makes double bogey to maneuver from solo chief to T2. pic.twitter.com/dkV6a5Q22W
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 14, 2024
Friday, after Spieth shot a 74 and missed the lower with a two-round whole 2-over par 146, he mentioned he believed McIlroy’s drop was correct.
“I solely walked over there as a result of I believed he had dropped it, after which he was questioning the place he was dropping it,” Spieth mentioned. “So I used to be simply attempting to verify he didn’t play it and everybody was good.
“I used to be good with the spot he was selecting. Then I used to be simply listening to the dialog of Rory and Viktor, and Rory had mentioned … ‘we expect it crossed up there, may have been again there, so this looks like someplace in between.’ That appears like one thing you in all probability ought to confirm with a guidelines official, after which he did. And it was all good.”
McIlroy, who shot a 73 Friday and is 6 below coming into the weekend, appeared aggravated when Spieth mentioned everybody he heard speaking who noticed the shot mentioned they had been “one hundred pc sure it landed beneath the road.”
Spieth mentioned Friday he solely mentioned that to McIlroy in case the touchdown spot was caught by tv cameras and the drop was the place it ought to have been.
“I instructed him after we walked off the tee that that they had mentioned that, and I mentioned ‘I couldn’t inform as a result of I believed it was going to land a lot additional that it shocked me the place it dropped,’” Spieth mentioned. “So I believed it was vital to say that truthfully. Due to that, I used to be like, ‘Why don’t you simply be certain that in case they caught it.’”
Spieth mentioned conversations just like the one he, McIlroy and Hovland had Thursday had been performed out a number of instances on the Stadium Course the final two days.
“I believe all anyone desires is so that you can put the ball the place it ought to go, and in our sport … particularly on a golf course like this or final week, you get some conditions the place it may be actually difficult on understanding for certain,” Spieth mentioned. “You usually err on the secure aspect and then you definitely choose the place you’re nearly sure the place it did cross, and I believe that’s what Rory selected each instances.”
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