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Spieth won battle against himself en route to 2-under 68 at WGC

GettyImages-544007546
GettyImages-544007546

Jordan Spieth may not have the lead after Day 1 of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, but the two-time major winner, desperate to get his season back on track compared to his blistering 2015, was a winner on Thursday.

Spieth beat himself, and he shot a 2-under 68 to trail William McGirt through 18 holes at Firestone Country Club.

“Today was a big round for me. I won the mental battle with myself,” Spieth said.

Through 14 holes on the round, Spieth was 2 over and languishing eight back of the pace. He was struggling from tee to green, finding himself in jail on the tree-lined course. However, Spieth finally found something for the final four holes, birdieing them all in succession to post one of those kinds of rounds that makes Spieth’s competition marvel as his ability to grind out a good round.

The 22-year-old said the difference in the final four holes was having the comfort of hitting a full approach shot.

“I had full shots in on the last few holes,” he said. “I had good numbers.”

Spieth feels like his swing isn’t firing on all cylinders. The Texan said he feels like he’s not getting through the ball with the right tempo, leading to keeping the club face wide open on less-than-full shots. He hopes the par saves he was able to manufacture in the first two-thirds of the round might free him up later in the week to go after the ball better.

As for Thursday, the former world No. 1 knows he got away with one.

“This is one of the best rounds, one of the happiest 2-unders I’ve ever shot for sure,” he said. “I wasn’t supposed to shoot 2-under today.”