The Masters brings things “Full Circle” for Jordan Spieth 10 years later

Somehow, Jordan Spieth’s triumph at The Masters as a 21-year-old came 10 years ago. His perspective on life has changed since then.

Wednesday at Augusta National is a day for family, especially for those playing in the field. Masters participants can invite their wives, girlfriends, and children to join them at the Par 3 Contest, with many of them hitting shots themselves.

It’s a day unlike any other in golf, a day that celebrates what makes this game so great: togetherness among young and old alike, among those whose love for one another extends far beyond a cosmic realm. Sporadic shots from non-players may go all over the place, but the only constant on this special Wednesday is the smiles worn by everyone on the property, from patron to player and everyone in between.

No wonder Jack Nicklaus, who won six Green Jackets, the last of which came with his son caddying for him in 1986, famously said that his favorite Masters moment came during the 2018 Par 3 Contest. His grandson, G.T., aced the par-3 9th hole, which led the Golden Bear to say, “This is the greatest day I’ve ever had at Augusta National.”

For Jordan Spieth, whose first Masters title came 10 years ago, the Par 3 Contest represents a “Full Circle” moment for him.

“I used to play it with myself, Justin [Rose], and Rickie [Fowler], and we were doing hole-in-one bets,” Spieth said on Wednesday morning after getting some last-minute practice in.

“Now I’ve just got to make sure that Sammy doesn’t hit somebody. It’s very, very different — very full circle. I used to see the kids out there, [and used to think], ‘Man, that seems too far away.’ Now I have two walking around with a third on the way.”

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hands-on dad. So trying to work smarter and not work harder. It’s hard to say not working harder. I’ve probably worked as hard as ever in the last eight months,” Spieth added.

“But at the same time, doing it in a really smart way. Trying not to waste any shots during the day and stay committed to the process.”

A lingering wrist injury, in which he suffered ahead of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2023, also set him back a bit. But the rehab and all of the trouble associated with that only added to his already full plate of being a professional golfer and a father. He finally had surgery on his wrist last August and returned to the PGA Tour in early February at Pebble Beach.

“It’s still a significant work in progress right now. That just goes to some of the consistencies. But it’s really just a swing here, a swing there from a couple of runner-ups or a win already in a few different events. Luckily around here, I know what to avoid when trouble comes. Hopefully that works in my favor,” Spieth said.

“It’s close, but it’s not quite there yet. That doesn’t mean that you don’t find it through this week. I mean, when I started back up [after surgery], it was a 10-year outlook, not an April of ‘25 outlook. It’s a little too much to ask to feel I’m the best I’ve ever been coming off surgery. So I try to hit the fairway on No. 1 tomorrow, and then I try to hit the middle of the green, and I go from there.”

Jordan Spieth has learned to take things shot by shot on the golf course and day by day at home, all while prioritizing his family first.

Maybe that perspective will help him this week. Maybe not. But whatever the case may be, the Par 3 Contest, more so than anything, shows the man Spieth has become — a family man, far away from the young adult he was in 2015. And yet, we all know he still has that brilliant play inside of him, that style that almost won him three consecutive Masters from 2014 to 2016.

That said, the one thing Spieth continues to do after all these years is that he never fails to entertain. Regardless of this week’s outcome, he will continue doing that at Augusta this week. Talk about a full circle indeed.