Spieth Claims Censorship Over Mud Ball Discussion at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — During a press conference on Saturday, Jordan Spieth raised concerns about potential censorship regarding discussions around mud balls at the Masters Tournament. The 31-year-old golfer suggested that tournament organizers discourage players from addressing the challenges posed by mud balls on the course.

Spieth, a former Masters champion who won the green jacket in 2015, performed respectably over the weekend with a third-round score of 3-under-par 69. However, despite this performance, he currently sits in a tie for 21st place, trailing leader Rory McIlroy by 11 strokes going into the final round.

“My iron play killed me the last two days and to be brutally honest with you, it was primarily mud balls,” Spieth stated. “It’s just so frustrating because you can’t talk about them here. You’re not supposed to talk about them.”

Spieth emphasized that mud balls could significantly impact tournament outcomes, especially on holes 11 and 13, where such conditions are frequently encountered. “Mud balls can affect this tournament significantly,” he reiterated. “They’re just daggers on those two holes.”

The issue of mud balls making shots unpredictable, especially when sticking to golf balls, has been a topic of discussion among players in past tournaments. “There’s like less than normal but I still had them today on those holes. I had them yesterday on those holes,” Spieth said. “It’s something to pay attention to for sure for leader groups.”

Spieth acknowledged that dealing with mud balls alters strategy. “You just have to play so far away from trouble or lay up when you’d normally go for it,” he noted. “And if you’re on the wrong side of the hole, you’re either in the water or you almost can’t make par depending on what hole it is.”

The golfer described the conditions further, saying, “Look, it’s mowed into the grain. The ball is digging in on every shot. A lot of times you have it on 75% of your drives.”

Other players have voiced similar concerns about the mud ball phenomenon. In 2009, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia publicly criticized the consistent presence of mud balls even during dry conditions, soon apologizing to the Masters organizers.

“Even when it’s dry, you still get mud balls in the middle of the fairway,” Garcia expressed back then. “It’s too much of a guessing game.”

As Spieth continues his efforts to compete at the Masters, it remains to be seen how Augusta National will respond to his comments on this contentious topic. His perspectives highlight a continuing dialogue among golfers about the challenges of the prestigious tournament.