Spieth feels good times returning

Jordan Spieth feels the hard work he has put in is now starting to pay dividends as he prepares to tee it up at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge (Spieth 12/1 Outright Betting).

The 25-year-old enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the sport, winning three majors between 2015 and 2017 but his form began to tail off last year.

Having won his third major at the 2017 Open Championship, the America has yet to return to the winner’s circle and plunged from the top of the world rankings to a low of 39th ahead of the US PGA Championship.

The Texan is now up to 30th after an encouraging share of third at Bethpage and there were signs in New York that the fighting qualities that saw him down all-comers just a few years ago were very much still there.

He will next tee it up in his home state at Colonial Country Club – a venue he won at back in 2016 when the tournament was called the Dean and DeLuca Invitational.

It remains to be seen how Spieth gets on but he appeared upbeat when speaking to reporters after Sunday’s final round on Long Island.

“I put in more hours over the last five months than I’ve ever put in my game in a five-month stretch,” he said. “Just trying to get to where I can be out here on a major championship Sunday making par saves, making birdie putts, and contending even without having my best stuff.

“That’s like 2015, 2016, 2017, that’s how I felt then.”

The youngster will face a strong field in Fort Worth, with Justin Rose (11/1) back to defend his title and Spanish sensation Jon Rahm (10/1) also in the line-up.

Rickie Fowler (11/1) and Xander Schauffele (12/1) have also made the journey south while Open champion Francesco Molinari (20/1) will be hoping for a better week after struggling to come to terms with Bethpage Black.

Paul Casey (25/1) and Ian Poulter (33/1) are the other leading English lights while Matthew Fitzpatrick (45/1) has also remained stateside for another week on the PGA Tour.

Odds subject to change