Full Breakdown
Jordan Spieth’s Back-Turned 62-Foot Birdie Putt Electrifies Memorial Tournament
6/6/2026, 12:03:41 AM
Back-Turned 62-Foot Birdie Putt on the Sixth Hole
On Thursday’s round of the 2026 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, Jordan Spieth faced a putt on the par-4 sixth hole. After a tee shot that landed just right of the fairway bunker, his second shot left the ball on the right side of the green with the pin on the left, creating a roughly 62-foot right-to-left break. Spieth turned his back, walked behind the ball to gauge the slope, waited 15 seconds, and watched the ball drop for a birdie.
Season Overview & Tournament Context
The Memorial Tournament, held each June at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, is a PGA Tour stop. Spieth entered his 14th appearance with eight top-25 finishes in 14 events this season. He has 13 PGA Tour wins but has never won at Muirfield Village, and he is seeking to end a winless streak that began in spring 2022. The sixth-hole putt was reported as 62 feet (some sources cite 63 feet). Spieth finished the round with a 71 (one-under), birdie on the sixth, and was four strokes behind the leaders. A PGA Tour X video of the putt reached 750,000 views by Thursday afternoon.
Official Statements & Responses
Spieth said he walked up to ball, looked for a pitch-mark to locate fall line and used that reference to gauge speed. He explained that on steep breaks it is difficult to judge distance, so he often walks to high side for a better view. After the putt he said it felt good to get into the red on the course, and noted his game has been as good as it’s ever been this year. He said he will put it all together and end his winless streak.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact length of the sixth-hole putt. Golf.com describes it as a 62-foot putt, while another Golf.com excerpt cites a 63-foot distance. No further clarification is provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You can’t tell from where you hit it when you’re playing that much break,” Spieth said, “so a lot of times I just walk to the high side and see.” — Jordan Spieth, PGA Tour player
- “It’s great just to get into red on this golf course before anything else,” — Jordan Spieth
- “It was the best putting surfaces I’ve ever seen in my life,” — Jordan Spieth
- “Every part of my game at one point or another has been as good as it’s ever been this year,” — Jordan Spieth
What’s Next
The second round starts Friday, June 5. Spieth, positioned near the top of the leaderboard after his birdie, will aim to improve his standing and pursue his first victory at Muirfield Village, which would also help end his winless streak.
