Spieth off to slow start at WGC-Mexico Championship with dad on his bag

MEXICO CITY – Jordan Spieth’s first round in nearly eight years with his father, Shawn, on the bag did not go as planned at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec.

Spieth birdied the first hole but struggled to an opening-round 75 and was well back of leader Rory McIlroy (63). This after Michael Greller, Spieth’s regular caddie, flew home Wednesday to be with family after the death of his father, John “Bear” Greller.

“I wish I would have done more for him,” Spieth said of his father, who last caddied for him at the 2011 U.S. Amateur. “But glad he's stepping in. Our bright moment was probably No. 1. Just trying to progress each day.”

Spieth said Bear Greller had been in hospice, and Michael had visited him early last week. He and Spieth were caught by surprise to learn of his passing in Mexico.

“I thought it would be sometime in the next month or so, based on how he was doing,” Spieth said. “It took a lot for (Michael Greller) to ask to go see him Monday and Tuesday of L.A., which it shouldn't. That's where he needed to be. When he said that, I knew it wasn't good.”

There was at least one bright spot Thursday: Shawn toted a lightweight carry bag instead of a staff bag, as he had for his son for nine holes Wednesday. He said he was the first option as a replacement, but not the only one. Asked what it felt like to caddie for his son, he spoke with a heavy heart.

“I’ve got mixed emotions,” he said, “It’s great, but you want him to have his best chance, you know? When you’ve got your regular caddie, you’ve got your best chance."

“I learned a lot,” he added. “Hopefully that’ll help us down the road. It’s cool. It’s fun to get to do it. It’s a big stage for somebody that hasn’t caddied in six years.”

The Greller and Spieth families are close, as one might expect considering the long partnership.

“Heavy heart for Michael and his family,” Christine Spieth, Jordan’s mother, wrote on Twitter. “Bear was a great father, husband, and grandfather. Heaven gained another angel!”

Asked how well did he knew Greller’s father, Shawn said, “Fairly well. They’ve been together a long time now. He hadn’t been able to get out a lot in the last few years.”

Jordan said the first of two services would be in Portland, and he’d been in touch with Greller.

“Everyone is there,” Spieth said, “and he's glad he's there.”