PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jordan Spieth did not look at T.P.C. Sawgrass and see the danger lurking around every moss-laden oak. As one might expect of someone with four victories in his last 12 stroke-play starts dating to last year’s Australian Open, Spieth saw fairways as wide as meadows and holes the size of Frisbees.
He did not hit the ball well in his practice sessions, but that did little to dampen his optimism going into his second Players Championship appearance. On the eve of the tournament, the No. 2-ranked Spieth commented on being grouped with the world No.