Field is wide open –- Spieth
> ‘Impossible to pick a winner as currently there is a lack of a dominant force in golf’ says World No. 3
THE NOTORIOUSLY unpredictable weather conditions and the lack of a dominant force in golf just now means picking a winner at this week’s British Open is impossible in the eyes of Jordan Spieth.
The 23-year-old world No. 3 became a golfing superstar in 2015 when he won the Masters and US Open in quick succession.
But since his double triumph two years ago, eight subsequent majors have yielded eight separate winners, underlining how much competition there is at the top of the sport.
And there are plenty of contenders to keep that run going this week, including Spain’s Irish Open winner Jon Rahm and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.
That is why Spieth says recent talk of a ‘Big Four’ comprised of him, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day is already redundant.
“I think you look at a guy like Jon Rahm, how does he deserve not to be in a conversation like that? What
US golfer Jordan Spieth watches his drive from the 15th tee during a practice round at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north west England yesterday. he just did at the Irish Open and what he has been able to do this year, he did it two weeks ago at links golf. He destroyed the field,” Spieth said at Birkdale on Tuesday.
“I don’t think he would have been someone that you would put there if you were about to name four guys.
“I don’t know what’s better for golf, (but) from my opinion it’s very exciting when you’ve got to beat that many great players with that much confidence.
“It could be anybody this week,” added Spieth, who came fourth at St Andrews two years ago and is wary of how big a part luck plays in terms of the weather.
Conditions were glorious yesterday, but the forecast is gloomier heading into the weekend.
“Most of the time there’s at least a group that gets the worst weather. And it’s almost impossible to win in that circumstance at an Open Championship.
“So nothing you can do about that other than keep your head down, play as well as you can, and see what happens after two days.”
Spieth will play with reigning champion Henrik Stenson and Kim Si-Woo in the first two rounds. He arrived in England fresh from winning the recent Travelers Championship to claim his 10th US PGA tour title and his second of the year.
“I’ve struck the ball better than I did in ‘15,” he said when asked if he was a better player now than two years ago.
“If I putted the same as ‘15 I’d be having a better year right now. So, yeah, certain parts of the game I think I’ve improved on. And others, you know, it’s just fluctuated,” added the Texan, who is in his fifth season as a professional.
“I recognise that being five years in now, and five years doesn’t make me a veteran, but it helps me realise kind of how things go. And last year I was pretty caught in 2015, and this year I’m not.” – AFP Championship and at last month’s US Open, either side of sitting out the Masters with a back injury. Recent form on tour has also been disappointing as he recovers his fitness, but he remains the favourite with most bookmakers. Recently became a father for the second time with his fiancée Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky. HIDEKI MATSUYAMA (JPN) Age - 25 World ranking - 2 Major titles: 0
Matsuyama has risen to No. 2 in the world – the best ever position for a Japanese golfer –- thanks to some outstanding results in the last year. The 25-year-old has won five titles in the last 12 months, most recently at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, while he finished in a tie for second in last month’s US Open. Previously came 11th at the Masters having come in fourth at last year’s PGA Championship. Second on the PGA Tour money list behind Johnson and now targeting becoming the second Asian major winner to follow in the footsteps of Yang Yong-Eun, who won the PGA in 2009. JORDAN SPIETH (USA) Age - 23 World ranking - 3 Major titles: 2 (2015 Masters, US