Spieth's "bad decision" costs him shot at career Grand Slam

ST LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 11: Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the 12th tee during the third round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 11, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Jordan Spieth was on a roll, reeling off three straight birdies to finish his front nine at round three of the PGA Championship. His hopes at a career Grand Slam then came crashing down on the par-4 12th hole.

After his tee shot went way right, Spieth was forced to take a provisional. He eventually found the tee shot, but that ultimately didn't help his cause.

Nestled among the trees, Spieth tried to blast his next shot through an opening in the branches, only to have it ricochet out of bounds. Spieth would triple-bogey the hole.

"I thought I had a shot. I didn't quite pull it off," Spieth said after the round. "Got a tough break. In reality I should have played the smart shot and just accepted par or bogey instead of trying to hit the green. But hindsight is 20/20. Obviously it's a bummer because my putter is as hot as it has been in two years, and I’m really rolling the rock nicely."

Entering the 12th hole, Spieth was only three shots off the lead. He finished the round with a 1-under 69 and is tied for 28th at 4-under par, eight shots behind leader Brooks Koepka.

“I’m extremely excited about where my game is at," said Spieth. "I’m just very frustrated to have worked my way into a chance to win this tournament just to kind of throw it away on a bad decision.”

The Dallas native is trying to become just the 6th golfer ever to complete the career Grand Slam. Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and The Open Championship in 2017. His best finish to date at the PGA Championship is 2nd place, also in 2015.

Now, barring something miraculous, he'll have to wait another year.

“I don’t have a chance to win this golf tournament, but I can shoot a low score and potentially back door a top 10 and that will be the goal.”