Jordan Spieth suffers back nine collapse in Houston raising doubts about Masters chances

If Jordan Spieth is to resurrect his form in time to launch a challenge for next week’s Masters then he has an awfully long way to deep in a short amount of time. In six calamitous holes at the Houston Open the former world No 1 went from a share of the lead, to a tie for 90th. Yes, it was only the first round, but this capitulation in his home state sums up the current misfortunes of the American who has not won since his Open success at Birkdale in 2017. Those heroics on England’s northwest coast seem of a different age, as indeed do the back-to-back Masters and US Open titles of two years before. Spieth is down in 75th in the world rankings and is now facing a fourth missed cut in six events. And if this finish to a round of 73 is an accurate gauge, then the 27-year-old’s many admirers cannot hold out much hope of him being around for the weekend at this $7m event at Memorial Park Municipal. After 10 holes it appeared so straightforward. Birdies at the second and third saw Spieth arrive on the 10th at two-under and when he hit his approach from 140 yards on the 10th to five feet for another birdie, it was all guns blazing from Texas to Georgia. But then, he three-putted the 11th and despite birdieing the 12th - with another sumptuous iron, this time from 173 yards, to three foot - the rot was already set in. Bogeys on the 13th and 14th gave way to a double-bogey on the par-three 15th before he went on a bizarre route to the 17th green, via a buggy path with his drive and then a second into the water, for another double-bogey. It was difficult to equate the slumped figure who walked off that final green with the ebullient character who waltzed all over the front nine. On three-over, Spieth was six behind a group sharing the clubhouse lead including fellow Americans Scottie Scheffler and Harold Varner. England’s Lee Westwood shot a miserable 77 in his own preparations for Augusta. On the Ladies European Tour, England’s Meghan MacLaren stands in second place in the Dubai Moonlight Classic, one off Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall. Going into the final round at the Emirates Golf Club, MacLaren will be confident of a third LET title after a 67 took her to eight-under. Other dangers include Australia’s Minjee Lee on seven-under and Kiwi Lydia Ko a further stroke behind.

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