Spieth desperate to win Northern Trust Open

Jordan Spieth has a score to settle at the Northern Trust Open as the world number one returns to the Riviera Country Club this week.

Spieth faltered late as James Hahn triumphed in a three-way play-off at last year’s PGA Tour event.

Now a two-time major winner, Spieth approached the 18th hole needing a birdie to force his way into a play-off, however, the American missed the putt as Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson went head-to-head with Hahn.

Fast forward 12 months and Spieth is desperate to make amends in a field featuring rival and world number three Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker.

“Just kind of teaches you how it works sometimes,” Spieth said of last year’s events. “Sometimes it’s not birdies to win.

“Sometimes on harder golf courses, even on a Tour event and it’s a non-major championship, sometimes par is a really good score.

“Unfortunately it’s rare, but fortunately, it happens here. So it would mean a lot to win this tournament.”

Spieth has already won on Tour in 2016, capturing the Tournament of Champions in January.

The 22-year-old has claimed six titles in the space of a year and he is happy with here his game is at.

Spieth added: “I think the entire confidence in my game when pressure comes on, I can now really relate and look back to a lot of key moments. Where I’ve hit shots in the past when the pressure has been on, where I felt I did what I wanted to do.

“That in its own is kind of priceless experience that I can then get up and do it again.”

Cancer survivor Jarrod Lyle, who finished fourth behind Bill Haas at the tournament in 2012 for his best ever placing on the PGA Tour, will take his place in the field.

Veterans Vijah Singh and Ernie Els are also set to compete in Pacific Palisades.