Jordan Spieth’s game has been on a real downward spiral for more than three years now.

Spieth last won on the PGA Tour in April 2022 and since then, he has been an absolute shadow of his former self.

It was back in 2015 when Spieth truly announced himself as a PGA Tour star, with two major wins at The Masters and The US Open.

The 32-year-old then won The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale two years later in 2017.

However, since then he has won just twice on the PGA Tour.

Spieth’s poor putting on the PGA Tour has undoubtedly played a key role in his elongated dip in form.

However, there are plenty of other reasons for his struggles as well, with one of those now being highlighted by Smylie Kaufman.

The main reason why Jordan Spieth is no longer a top-five player in the world

Kaufman thinks he knows exactly why Spieth has been struggling over the past few years.

Kaufman responded when asked by Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner what needs to happen in order for Jordan Spieth to return to a top-5 player in the world.

“I think just freedom,“ Kaufman suggested.

“I think freedom is the one that comes in my brain. For Jordan, when he’s able to play free, you start to see his entire game open up.

“He hits the shots that you didn’t think anybody could hit, and it’s with the creativity and a free mind.

“I think for Jordan, he needs to own what he has. So, coming away from the technical changes that he’s made over the last couple years.

“You know, a surgery that probably could have happened a couple years ago, having a year in which he’s able to kind of see how it feels throughout the year.

“Then deal with the soreness and scar tissue that now, I think, a year into this where he’s able to see positive results, maybe not quite to the level in which he wants it, I thought it still was a positive year for him.

“I think the next step for him is to be able to show up, knowing he has his stuff on Thursday, Friday, and not have to go and bang balls all week, have a fresher mind.

“I think that’ll benefit him more come Sundays, because it feels like he’s been so close to putting it all together, but has, you know, one or two or three holes a tournament that sets him back.“

The specific part of Jordan Spieth’s game that needs improving

Kaufman expanded on his comments about where Spieth goes from here.

He shared his opinion that Spieth is thinking about things far too much, especially when it comes down to his iron game.

Smylie said: “I guess the iron game, too, would be the other part. You’ll start to see him shaping more shots and playing with a clear mind there.

“I think when he’s having to think about how to hit a high cut to a back right pin, and how to do it, you’re probably not going see quite the results that you’d want to see.

“So the more that he can just play with that one swing thought, that would probably be the best version of Jordan that will potentially get him back to be a top five player in the world.“

Smylie is obviously suggesting that Spieth is a much better player when he is hitting high draws, low fades or whatever shape shots into greens without thinking about it.

If he is able to return to his more natural approach to the game, Spieth may well rediscover his best form one day.