RORY MCILROY HAS taken to Twitter to lend his support to Jordan Spieth, insisting that the world number one is “not done” after a poor first round at the Valspar Championship yesterday.
Spieth’s struggles continued in Florida after the defending champion carded an opening-round 76 to fall nine shots adrift.
The 22-year-old two-time major winner’s display came after he finished 17th at last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship. He also missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open.
Many believe Spieth is in the midst of a “slump” but world number three McIlroy quickly jumped to his rival’s defence via social media.
“No, he’s not TW [Tiger Woods], he’s not slumping and he’s not done,” McIlroy wrote. ”He’s a double major winning 22 year old. He’ll be just fine!!”
Prior to February, Spieth romped to the Tournament of Champions title by eight strokes. He became just the second player in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole tournament 30-under par or lower. Spieth also placed fourth at the Hero World Challenge and tied for seventh at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Keegan Bradley, Ken Duke and Charles Howell III shared the four-under-par overnight lead at the Valspar Championship heading into today’s second round.
The three Irish players in the field — Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke — all had difficult opening rounds. Harrington and McDowell are eight shots off the pace on three-over-par, while Clarke is three strokes further back.
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