Johnson Wagner Highlights Jordan Spieth's Putting Struggles Despite Strong PGA Championship Start

Former PGA Tour player Johnson Wagner has expressed surprise at Jordan Spieth's inconsistency with short putts during the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia. Despite opening the tournament with a solid one-under-par round of 69 to sit tied for 15th place, Wagner pointed out a shocking disparity in Spieth's putting game. While Spieth retains excellent touch from long range, his performance on short putts remains a significant weakness, ranking 89th on the PGA Tour this season. Wagner emphasized that for Spieth to win majors and complete the Career Grand Slam, he must recapture the putting dominance he displayed in 2015. Although Spieth gained 0.41 shots on the greens during the first round, Wagner remains cautious about his chances, citing firming green conditions and wind as potential challenges. He rated his excitement level for Spieth's victory at only three out of ten, preferring to take the tournament day by day. The article highlights the ongoing narrative of Spieth chasing history, having been one major title away from the Career Grand Slam since 2017, while noting his current four-year wait for a victory.