‘Life-or-death’ – Jordan Spieth risked everything to save one shot in Pebble Beach moment which left caddie horrified
Jordan Spieth has arguably been the most thrilling player to watch in all of golf over the past 12 years. Drifting from the ridiculous to the sublime, the American leaves an army of fans in never-ending suspense every time he tees it up. If there is a moment that sums up Spieth, it was this2022 Getty Images Spieth plays golf on the edge, and in this case, quite literally. But even by his jaw-dropping standards, this decision was a little too much for everyone’s blood pressure. It came at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2022 as the now 31-year-old found himself chasing an unlikely victory in the third round. Needing a monumental day to get into contention, Spieth found trouble at the iconic par-4 eighth hole. His ball was in play, but here’s the thing – it was hanging over the edge of a cliff with a drop that would result in near-certain death. Most golfers will know that weight needs to be transferred forwards in the downswing, making any attempt to play this ball genuinely life-threatening. But Spieth, being Spieth, played it anyway. In one of golf’s scariest-ever moments, drone footage captured the sheer extent of the risk as the three-time major winner committed to the stroke. He was able to muscle one up near the green, escaping with both a par and all his limbs. But reflecting on it afterwards, Spieth was full of regret, acknowledging how his nearest and dearest must have felt watching from afar. This was the drop facing Spieth if he lost balancePGA Tour This sign proved to be uselessPGA Tour “I just saw the blimp shot from overhead and it really bothered me, so I can’t imagine while she was watching that live,” Spieth said of Annie his wife. “My parents are here too, so not only do I have to explain to my wife, I got to explain to my mom, my dad.” Golf fans often joke that caddie Michael Greller has the toughest job in all of sport – trying to reason with Spieth and suggest sensible things. Greller has seen it all, but even the famous looper was left horrified by Spieth’s decision to play the ball. Spieth added: “I’ve never had a life-or-death situation on a shot before so I thought I wouldn’t have any nerves after that one. “I never had a situation where you can see a ball, get a swing on it, but you’re not going to play it. Spieth’s caddie was not happy with the risk-taking…Getty “So it was just kind of weird because it was like, ‘Well if I can get a swing on it and I can hit it then why would I take a drop?’ “If that were to happen again he [Greller] will walk up, grab my ball and throw it in the water so that I can’t hit it.” Spieth continued: “Michael hated it. He tried to talk me out of it three times. I don’t blame him, looking back. “I’m just glad I made the par to make it worth it.” Ahead of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2023, Spieth was asked about the famous moment again. He reflected: “I think I saved a stroke. Does the reward outweigh the risk? Not if you think the risk was dying. “I’m glad I ended up making a 4 because if I made a 5 it would have been one of the worst decisions I ever made. “Instead, it was just a bad decision.” Spieth is now returning to play in this year’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am, kicking off his 2025 season in California. He won the event in 2017 and despite going to all lengths to claim another since, he’s still awaiting a second title. Wyndham Clark won around the illustrious links in California last year, carding a new Pebble Record course record before bad weather cut the event short. Clarke will be back to defend his title with Spieth starring alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler. talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all four days of the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Jordan Spieth has arguably been the most thrilling player to watch in all of golf over the past 12 years.
Drifting from the ridiculous to the sublime, the American leaves an army of fans in never-ending suspense every time he tees it up.
Spieth plays golf on the edge, and in this case, quite literally.
But even by his jaw-dropping standards, this decision was a little too much for everyone’s blood pressure.
It came at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2022 as the now 31-year-old found himself chasing an unlikely victory in the third round.
Needing a monumental day to get into contention, Spieth found trouble at the iconic par-4 eighth hole.
His ball was in play, but here’s the thing – it was hanging over the edge of a cliff with a drop that would result in near-certain death.
Most golfers will know that weight needs to be transferred forwards in the downswing, making any attempt to play this ball genuinely life-threatening.
But Spieth, being Spieth, played it anyway.
In one of golf’s scariest-ever moments, drone footage captured the sheer extent of the risk as the three-time major winner committed to the stroke.
He was able to muscle one up near the green, escaping with both a par and all his limbs.
But reflecting on it afterwards, Spieth was full of regret, acknowledging how his nearest and dearest must have felt watching from afar.
“I just saw the blimp shot from overhead and it really bothered me, so I can’t imagine while she was watching that live,” Spieth said of Annie his wife.
“My parents are here too, so not only do I have to explain to my wife, I got to explain to my mom, my dad.”
Golf fans often joke that caddie Michael Greller has the toughest job in all of sport – trying to reason with Spieth and suggest sensible things.
Greller has seen it all, but even the famous looper was left horrified by Spieth’s decision to play the ball.
Spieth added: “I’ve never had a life-or-death situation on a shot before so I thought I wouldn’t have any nerves after that one.
“I never had a situation where you can see a ball, get a swing on it, but you’re not going to play it.
“So it was just kind of weird because it was like, ‘Well if I can get a swing on it and I can hit it then why would I take a drop?’
“If that were to happen again he [Greller] will walk up, grab my ball and throw it in the water so that I can’t hit it.”
Spieth continued: “Michael hated it. He tried to talk me out of it three times. I don’t blame him, looking back.
“I’m just glad I made the par to make it worth it.”
Ahead of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2023, Spieth was asked about the famous moment again.
He reflected: “I think I saved a stroke. Does the reward outweigh the risk? Not if you think the risk was dying.
“I’m glad I ended up making a 4 because if I made a 5 it would have been one of the worst decisions I ever made.
“Instead, it was just a bad decision.”
Spieth is now returning to play in this year’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am, kicking off his 2025 season in California.
He won the event in 2017 and despite going to all lengths to claim another since, he’s still awaiting a second title.
Wyndham Clark won around the illustrious links in California last year, carding a new Pebble Record course record before bad weather cut the event short.
Clarke will be back to defend his title with Spieth starring alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all four days of the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
