Notebook: Jordan Spieth Staying Quieter (Really), Bryson Seeing Progress and Dustin Staying Conservative at 13

The 2020 Masters champion doesn't see himself going for the lengthened par 5 in two shots.

AUGUSTA, Ga.—When Jordan Spieth left Augusta National on April 12, 2015, it was with a green jacket in his suit bag.

For a year, Spieth took the iconic jacket on for a spin, visiting Dallas Mavericks games, Texas Rangers games, his alma mater the University of Texas and just about anywhere he wanted.

"Maybe the coolest part is just everywhere I went, I traveled with a little hanging bag, and on the bag that holds the jacket it says '2015 Masters Champion' or whatever on it,” Spieth said. “So, it was just kind of cool to look in my closet every week and see that. I'd love to have another one, maybe a little bigger and fit it to my size.”

That was a long time ago in golf years and now Spieth comes back to the place he has had a large amount of success with five top 5s in his first nine years, but only the one jacket.

Will 2023 be different?

Spieth had chances in 2014 and 2016 down the stretch but didn’t get it done.

“I really haven't had a lot of opportunities on the back nine, I've backdoored some of those top finishes, and I'd love to get in the mix,” Spieth said. “Because I feel like right now, I feel better about my game than I've felt since probably 2017.”

One part of Spieth’s game that has changed is talking less to his longtime caddie Michael Greller.

Spieth, who talks a lot, found that he was either justifying why something he did was good, or why something he did wasn't or could have been better.

He was essentially talking to himself, so there's no reason to say it out loud.

“Michael's seen everything, I shouldn't have his expectation be me at my very best at every facet of my game, every single day, because it's not going to happen,” Spieth said. “So, I kind of tried to justify it or whatever to him, and I didn't feel that was healthy, and I could save a lot of energy if I didn't.”

Will Spieth keep his mouth shut and let his game do the talking?

That is just one of the many storylines of this week at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau Seeing Progress

Bryson DeChambeau has not won since the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

In the last 25 months, he has tried to hit the ball harder and farther than any player on the PGA Tour.

His attempt to launch it higher and farther cost him injuries to his left hand, that required surgery and a very long and rehab.

“It's just been a tough go with my hand and injuries and trying to find my golf swing again, and been able to find some good stuff, and hopefully it translates to this week,” DeChambeau said on Monday. “Last week [T16 at LIV Orlando] was very nice, I was progressing every single day and I felt like my putting was in a good spot, chipping was in a good spot, driving was in a good spot. I'm excited for this week.”

In six appearances at Augusta National, DeChambeau has not had much success with a T21 in 2016 his best finish.

“When I won the U.S. Open I felt like I still had something to prove and I had vertigo, weird stuff going on that year, and it just seems like every year I've never really had my game, my 'A' game, and even though this year I don't feel like it's fully 'A' game status, it's progressing that way, which I haven't had at any Masters, other than 2020 when I was playing well, and then I had weird stuff happen to me,” DeChambeau said. “It's like my emotions, just up and down, up, and down.”

Dustin Johnson's Plan for 13

The 13th hole will be the talk of the town this week at the Masters.

Dustin Johnson, the 2020 champion, took a hard look at the newly lengthened Azalea hole and saw the additional 35 yards an impediment to going for the green in two.

“I hit a really good drive today, but most likely in the tournament, it's going to be really hard for me to get one there just because, I mean, it's practice round, it's a little easier,” Johnson said. “I don't like to turn the ball over.”

Johnson, who predominantly hits his drives left-to-right, sees the 13th hole as more difficult for him since his ball flight will take the ball farther from the green.

“Obviously guys that can turn the driver over, it helps them out,” Johnson said. “It's not really my forte with the driver hitting a draw.”

So instead, Johnson will likely be laying up all four days unless the wind turns favorable.