Spieth said that in years past, players could expect to see mud on their ball as often as 75% of their drives, because fairways are mowed into the grain and tee shots tend to dig in. The problem has gotten better, Spieth said, but it persists and can be frustrating.

Jordan Spieth has alluded to some censorship going on at the Masters. The 31-year-old suggested Saturday that organizers of the tournament want golfers to refrain from talking about the challenges that come from mud balls.

Mud balls! Are we talking mud balls? Not Bubba Watson this time, but Jordan Spieth discussed a taboo subject at Augusta National Golf Club. Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion, shot a bogey-free 3-under 69 in the third round of the 89th Masters on Saturday,