Mixed Bag

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS | Following Friday’s second round at the Valero Texas Open, Jhonattan Vegas was asked to assess the play of Jordan Spieth. The former Texas Longhorns were grouped together over the first 36 holes and combined to shoot 14-under par heading into the weekend.

“If that looks like a slump, I want to be on it for the rest of my career,” Vegas said after watching a previously struggling Spieth post consecutive 68s at TPC San Antonio.

Vegas sees what we all see when it comes to Spieth at his best. It’s why Spieth is a three-time major champion and has four top-3 finishes in five starts at the Masters. Even amidst a season in which he ranks a dreadful 177th in the FedEx Cup standings, Spieth is liable to ignite at any moment.

Saturday proved to be a microcosm of how the 25-year-old’s play continues to be maddening. Playing in the final threesome as he looked for his first victory in almost two years, Spieth missed every fairway on his front nine en route to a 6-over 42. So disastrous was his effort that he appeared ...