Jordan Spieth at Dean & DeLuca Invitational 2016: Thursday Score and Reaction

Jordan Spieth opened play Thursday at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas, with a strong three-under 67 to remain within three strokes of leader Bryce Molder.  

Here's a look at the updating leaderboard:

Spieth started his day like a man on a mission, with birdies on the first two holes. He cooled off from there, however, bogeying No. 4 and not managing another birdie until No. 9.

After another birdie on No. 11, Spieth managed the course, playing to par on every remaining hole. 

Spieth averaged 315.5 yards on his drive, hit 77.8 percent of the greens in regulation, had a driving accuracy of 42.8 percent and notched 1.2 strokes gained with his putting, per PGATour.com.

He wasn't fretting after the round, per Brian Sandler of Time Warner Cable SportsChannel:

It was a solid afternoon for him, but it didn't stop the chatter that something is a bit off with his game at the moment. The announcing crew on the Golf Channel spent part of Thursday discussing Spieth's current struggles, as he appears to be battling himself on the course despite posting solid scores.

Analyst Brandel Chamblee believes the issues are mostly mental, per John Strege of GolfDigest.com:

"

The longer you stand over the ball the more apt you’re going to take the club away quick. The more apt you are going to have a quick change of direction, which means you’re going to get in front of it, and you’re going to miss your lines. And that is it. That’s all that’s going on with this kid right now, is that he’s got just a little too much in his head.

"

Peter Kostis countered that Spieth just needs to improve off the tee, per Strege:

"

I just think that Jordan needs to hit more fairways. That’s really the key for him. He’s complained about his proximity to the hole on his approach shots, but it’s hard to get close to the hole from the rough. I was impressed last week with how far he’s hitting the ball, however. I think they’ve done that part of the equation, he and his coach [Cameron McCormick]. But now they’ve got to find it.

"

Of course, most players in the world would love to be working through struggles in their game and still posting a three-under.

Most players would probably enjoy playing at the Colonial Pro-Am with actor and comedian Bill Murray, too. The pair spoke to reporters after their round together on Wednesday, per the PGA Tour:

It's hard to imagine Spieth won't iron out the kinks in his game, and soon. But after his dominant 2015 season, there are perhaps expectations that Spieth will never struggle. That's unrealistic.

And if his current level of play is Spieth "struggling," it's scary to imagine how dangerous he'll be when he's once again at his best. None of the players above him on the Dean & DeLuca Invitational leaderboard will be feeling safe over the next three rounds with Spieth looming.

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