Spieth will rebound from Masters flop: Van de Velde

When Jean van de Velde says he believes that Jordan Spieth will get over his Masters meltdown, the Frenchman knows what he is talking about.

Needing a double-bogey six down the last hole of the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie in Scotland, van de Velde produced a calamitous triple-bogey seven and eventually lost out to Paul Lawrie in a play-off.

It was a moment that came to mind at the Masters when Spieth blew the lead by putting two balls into the water on the 12th hole, allowing Danny Willett to storm past him to victory. “Trust me, you can’t believe how fast everything is happening when that guy is you,” said Van de Velde.

“That’s what I love about golf. It slaps you on the finger five minutes after the biggest high you could ever think of,” he added.

van de Velde stepped onto the final tee of the 1999 Open leading by three shots and needing only to record a six to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to capture golf’s oldest major.

He had birdied the 18th hole in two of three prior rounds. van de Velde chose a driver off the tee, but put his tee shot well right of the fairway.

The weekend before last Spieth felt the championship slip from his fingers in similar fashion.

Spieth, the defending champion, looked to be cruising to victory, but a disastrous 12th hole meant that he ended up handing his green jacket over to Englishman Willett.

van de Velde said he sympathised with the 22-year old Texan. “Jordan is an extraordinary player who has an extraordinary head on his shoulders and he will get over it extremely quickly,” Van de Velde said, adding, “And when he does, he will become stronger and stronger.”