Spieth moves on quickly for year’s last major
Jordan Spieth hit the reset button after the US Open, a prudent decision to keep from looking in the rearview mirror.
Gone was the burden of trying to repeat 2015 by winning the Masters and US Open in the same year. This was all about looking ahead at two more majors, not so much to salvage the year but the chance to make it another great one. And now, even that is about to end.
Golf, known for its deliberate pace, is on warp speed this year.
‘‘I had said after the US Open it felt like now the second half is starting,’’ Spieth said. ‘‘And all of a sudden, you know, that’s the end of the majors for the year.’’ Blame it on Rio. Golf is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1904. To make room on the schedule, the PGA Championship agreed to move up to the final weekend of July ahead of the Rio Games.
That left 11 days between the end of one major and the start of another. From a claret jug to the Wanamaker Trophy with barely enough time to breathe.
Ready or not, the final major starts Friday (NZ time) at Baltusrol Golf Club.
The PGA Championship has the strongest field of all the majors, and it really stands out in an Olympic year. No-one is skipping Baltusrol except for injury, while the Olympics will have only eight of the top 25 in the world.
For years, the slogan of the final major was ‘‘Glory’s Last Shot,’’ and that still applies. This is one last chance for players to reshape their outlook on the year, to turn a good season into a great one.
That starts with Spieth, defending champion Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.
They began 2016 as the modern version of the ‘‘Big Three’’ because they had traded turns at No1 in the world, they had combined to win five of the previous six majors and there were all in their 20s.
But going into Baltusrol, all three are in danger of being shut out in the majors this year.
Spieth is having a very good year, and he needs reminded of that every now and then. He has won twice, including in his home state of Texas. He was one bad swing away from winning the Masters again. It just feels like a failure compared with last year, when he won two majors.
‘‘Had last year not happened I’d be having a lot of positive questions,’’ he said. ‘‘Instead, most of the questions I get are comparing to last year and, therefore, negative. So that’s almost tough to then convince myself that you’re having a good year.’’
One major outlook.
Ditto for McIlroy, whose only victory was the Irish Open before a home crowd. He missed the cut in the US Open and didn’t finish closer than five shots in the other two.
‘‘All I can do is keep plugging away,’’ McIlroy said after he tied for fifth at the British Open, 16 shots behind. ‘‘It’s really close. I’m staying positive about it. I feel like good things are happening. If I can drive the ball like I did this week at Baltusrol and sharpen up a few bits and pieces, I think I’ll be right there.’’
Day has been No 1 in the world since March, and his three victories are the most on the PGA Tour. When he won The Players Championship in May, it was his seventh victory in the last 10 months. It has been a very good year. A major makes it a great one. could change the