Mark Immelman is one of the best golf broadcasting voices out there. He brings his experience as an author, analyst, and golf instructor to the PGA broadcasts and the listeners are the beneficiary of his encyclopedic knowledge and experience garnered from years covering the professional game.

In this 45 minute episode from his “On The Mark” PGA Tour Podcast Mark interviews Jordan Spieth, a guy he clearly admires and respects for all that he has brought to what will be a hall of fame career.

Much as he does as the lead commentator of PGA Tour coverage, Mark is enthusiastic and thorough as he prods Jordan on the many chapters of his Tour career. It includes his early family life before the tour, storied amateur accomplishments, meteoric rise as a professional right out of the gate, and how he has worked through the inevitable ups and downs that have affected his career in recent years.

Jordan is a wonderful interview because, as we have seen over his career, he is not one to hide behind cliches and generalities when he is asked a question. Rather he is thoughtful and articulate in his responses, not afraid to deal with even the most introspective inquiries into how he approaches the game. This interview does not disappoint in that regard.

As Mark says in the interview Jordan really needs no introduction. He won two U.S. Junior Amateurs, a collegiate National Championship, three Major Championships, a FedEx Cup, and boatloads of money along the way. His Ryder Cup and President’s Cup record is stellar and he has recently accepted positions on the Tour policy board dealing with the schism that the invasion of LIV has created in the world of professional golf.

More than anything, much like Phil Mickelson in the early years, Jordan is must see TV every time he is on a weekend golf broadcast. Hell it is worth it just to hear Jordan’s stream of consciousness conversations with his caddy Michael Greller on how to play the next recovery shot. It is like two millennial fathers in the pickup line at kids rec soccer discussing the best way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich including whether it should be JIf or Skippy, Smooth or Crunchy, on Wonderbread or seeded Jewish rye. It’s all in the details.

There are plenty of nuanced Jordan explanations throughout but one of my favorite was his response to Immelman’s question on why Jordan plays so well at Augusta.

Jordan’s view is that courses like Augusta or Kapalua or the links courses of the British Isles present topographical or environmental conditions that fix a flaw in his game. The flaw in his game…..his inability to curve the ball dramatically on demand. On courses with fairways with pervasive uneven stances or green complexes with lots of movement due to topographical features the uneven lies or the sloped landing areas create big curves on their own. Same is true when the wind is up as it often is on links courses, the wind creates curve.

At Augusta, Kapalua, or Royal Birkdale these features “correct” the perceived flaw in his game by making the ball curve big time on it’s own. It is simply up to the player to read the required shot, embrace these tendencies, and plan the start lines accordingly. This is another example of the cerebral side of Jordan’s game.

There are lots more goodies revealed, so pour yourself a tall one and click on the link below to enjoy Mark Immelman’s revealing conversation with Jordan Spieth.

On The Mark with Mark Immelman

January, 2024

Click To Listen To “Jordan Spieth On Golf” Episode of On The Mark