Rejuvenated Spieth fired up for Aus Open
FORMER world No1 Jordan Spieth says he feels rejuvenateded entering his first event in seven weekseks at the Australian Open in Sydney,ey, which starts on Thursday.
The 23-year-oldd double major winner hasn’t playeded since last month’s Ryder er Cup and is the headline ne act at the Royal Sydneyy Golf Club along with localocal favourite and world rld No7 Adam Scott.
“I feel renewed. d. I feel mentally in a good place right now going into the end nd of this year and next year,” ear,” said Spieth, who is currentlyurrently ranked fifth.
“I’ve had some tremendous time off, been en able to feel like I’m complete- mplete- ly rested, get to do some things in the swing that I’ve bee been trying to work on for a year now.”now The American is chasing his second Australi Australian Open title in three years. A final round 6 63 propelled him to a six-shot victory in 2014 and his titlet defence last year fel fell one shot short when h he and Scott were j o i n t r u n n e r s - u p b e hi nd Aus t r a l i a n Matt Jones, who is not defe defending his crown this w week. Sp Spieth has two wor worldwide victories in 2 2016 and has been una unable to recapture his r remarkable form from 2015 when he wo won five times on the USPGA Tour including back-toback majors at the US Masters and US Open.
“I wanted to come back here,” he said. “This tournament is very important. It was a springboard two years ago.”
Spieth (pictured, AFP) is searching for his first victory since May and tees off early on Thursday alongside former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy and reigning US Amateur and Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Curtis Luck.
Ogilvy is fresh off a tie for fourth two weeks ago at the US PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas and is confident he can add to his Austra lian Open win in 2010.
“I feel capable of playing better than I ever have,” t he 39-year-old Austra lia n said.
“Whether that actua lly eventuates for scores or not, I don’t k now, but I feel like I k now my game better than I ever have. Golf-wise, I feel bet ter t han I ever have.”
Scott – the 2009 Australian Open champion – will headline the Thursday afternoon field when he tees off alongside Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas and fellow Aussie Aaron Baddeley.
The 2013 Masters champion returns to Royal Sydney for the first time since his memorable duel three years ago with Rory McIlroy when the Northern Irishman birdied the 72nd hole to defeat Scott by one shot.
Scott is vying for his first victory since back-to-back wins on the US PGA Tour in February and March.
Veteran Rod Pampling is also in the field, fresh from his first USPGA Tour title in more than a decade at the Shriners Open.
The top three players in Sydney will win direct entry into next July’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.