Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have some competition. Maybe. Jordan Spieth is set to play in the next signature tournament, but not without some scrutiny. Why, you ask? Well, Spieth and Rickie Fowler have received five sponsor exemptions to signature events in the 2025 season, sparking debate about the fairness of the exemption system, especially considering Fowler’s struggles this season, ranking 90th on the FedEx Cup points list. While players like Bud Cauley, who is 36th on the list, and Matti Schmid, who finished second at the Charles Schwab Challenge, have had to earn their spots through other means. However, Spieth, on the other hand, not as low as Fowler, has a decent ranking of 49th, and despite all that hate, Spieth believes he has what it take

Speaking on the latest episode of 5 Clubs on YouTube, Jordan Spieth reflected on his career, saying, “It’s very much possible” for him to end the reign of top players like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. With a twinkle in his eye, Spieth believes he’s got the runway to make a charge back to the top 10, top 5, or even number one in the world. “I’m young enough to do so, I’m now healthy enough to feel like I can,” he said, highlighting his renewed confidence. Speith has also recovered recently from his wrist injury, which had bothered him since May 2023, so he indeed is healthy now. He’s currently ranked 51st. Spieth’s familiarity with certain golf courses is an advantage, allowing him to skip the initial rounds and dive straight into competitive form. “I don’t feel like I have to play 36 holes before the tournament starts,” he mentioned.

Spieth’s focus is on putting in the prep work to win week after week. “I want to get out and do as much prep as I can to feel like I can win week to week,” he said. Despite some decent weeks when he’s come from behind to finish 13th, Spieth knows that being out in front is a different feeling altogether. “If you’re out in front, it’s a different feeling, and you know, obviously more opportunity,” he noted. With his wife’s unwavering support, Spieth feels like he’s knocking on the door, and he’s taking a long-term approach – a 10-15 year outlook to reclaim the top spot. “I know it’s going to be a long process, I’m trying to approach it as a nice kind of 10, 15-year outlook,” he said with a hint of determination.

But it shouldn’t be a surprise that Spieth is confident in his skills, given his impressive track record, including being World No. 1 for 26 weeks in 2015 and 2016. However, Spieth’s recent performance at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson served as a humbling reminder of the gap between him and current World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Despite a strong final-round 62, Spieth finished 12 shots behind Scheffler, who dominated the tournament. “I mean, it wasn’t that long ago I was definitely better than him, and now I’m definitely not right now,” Spieth admitted.

He added that watching Scheffler’s dominance firsthand was inspiring, but also a wake-up call, saying, “It makes me want to work harder and be better, especially after watching him for two days and just getting my b*tt kicked.” But Spieth knows how to get back at the top golfers.

Jordan Spieth knows what he needs to do to beat Scheffler and McIlroy

Jordan Spieth knew he had his work cut out for him as he prepared to face off against top contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at the 2025 PGA Championship. Spieth had been seeking a career Grand Slam since his win at the 2017 Open Championship, and the recent hype surrounding his pursuit was largely fueled by McIlroy’s achievement of the feat at the Masters. Spieth admitted he was “surprised” by the attention, saying, “If Rory didn’t, it wouldn’t have been a storyline for me, here, necessarily.” However, he was inspired by McIlroy’s win and threw his hat into the ring, eager to give it a shot.