CAN SPIETH CONJURE A BIT OF OPEN SORCERY?
Texan must beat odds in Scotland
So much is against him. The tides of history, the weight of expectation, the perils of jetlag, his limited preparation, and the lack of old course knowledge. Now even fate seems to be ganging up as well, with what appears a place on the wrong side of the draw.
But Jordan Spieth strode into the press interview room yesterday and gave a 30 minute performance so assured even that daunting list suddenly appeared manageable.
only the foolhardy would rule out something truly magical occurring at the 144th open championship.
The 21-year-old Texan is out early in the first round this morning in what is expected to be the best of the weather over the first two rounds and has an obvious opportunity to deliver a statement of intent. A round in the sixties to place on the board by lunchtime would not only set this open alight, but bring into view an achievement so rare it happens once in a lifetime, if that.
There’s no shortage of competition for your interest these next few days, of course, but anyone who loves seeing sport touch the highest level has to be intrigued by the idea of a man adding the claret Jug to the masters and the US open for the first time since Ben hogan managed it in the summer of 1953.
‘Sure, I’m aware I can achieve something very special,’ said Spieth. ‘I like to study the history of golf and I know the chance to do what only one other person in the history of the game has done doesn’t come around very often. I’m certainly embracing the opportunity. But by the time I start on Thursday it will not be in my head. It will be how I can bring this open championship down to the level of just another event, to get out there and get myself into contention.’
Spieth is making just his second trip to St Andrews — and playing it for the first time in competition — but has already elevated the experience to another level. Never mind that the great Bobby Jones, a man who achieved comparable deeds at a similar age in the 1920s, needed several visits before falling in love. Spieth has gone straight to smitten.
‘I don’t think there’s anything more special in this sport than playing an open championship at the home of golf,’ he said. ‘I have fond memories of playing here a few years back and you don’t forget much. There’s only a couple of places like that in the world, maybe here and Augusta National.
‘And while it has been a shortened week I’ve still played a lot of holes in practice. I feel really good about last week heading into here (he won the John Deere classic) and over the past two months. All in all, I’m extremely excited. It would mean the world to me to win this championship.’
Even the prospect of being out in the hoolie predicted by the weather forecasters for Friday afternoon that threatens a golfing form of carnage leaves him unfazed.
‘If I wanted to get good weather I’d go play in california,’ he smiled.
‘I came over here because I want to embrace the opportunity of handling these conditions. That’s part of the challenge. I understand a lot of this tournament to be dependent on the draw the first two days but it doesn’t mean you can’t make it up if you get the bad end of it.’
Spieth smiled shyly when someone asked if it’s reaching the stage where he’s intimidating his peers.
‘I don’t know. I don’t look like an intimidating person,’ he said. ‘I don’t hit the ball the furthest but I find a way to get it in the hole.
‘ I can’t imagine them being intimidated because I don’t feel intimidated by anybody. If I see the name of Rory mc Ilroy, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, whoever it is, up at the top I would be loving the challenge to knock them off. I feel that anyone who is here to win this event is feeling that.’
he looked quizzically at the man who asked if he thought it would be difficult to remain grounded, if he keeps this majors run going.
‘Why would you think that?’ he enquired, politely. ‘I can see that it would change the amount of time you have, but not me as a person. I figure that it got me this far, I may as well keep it this way.’
As if to emphasise the point about staying grounded, he would later talk about a recent trip to the school of his sister Ellie, who has special needs.
‘I was her grandparent on grandparents’ day,’ he said. ‘her real grandparents were away in North carolina and Pennsylvania, so I just went in there to support her.
‘Any time at home I’m spending time with Ellie.
‘I take her to school, pick her up, spend time with her at my parents’ house or she’ll come over and hang out.’
Spieth did stumble once yesterday.
On the opening hole of his final practice round, he got to the bridge crossing the Swilcan Burn and his foot caught in a raised piece of timber. He laughed as he narrowly avoided falling into the water.
There are many great storylines waiting to be written here in a championship destined to be played out in all kinds of weather. Will the conditions tip the balance in favour of the Europeans against the Americans, or will the Australians and South Africans prosper as they have in the past?
But one story dominates as we await a ball being struck. The story of a remarkable young golfer and inherently decent man.
On his Open debut at Muirfield two years ago, Spieth was in contention during the third round but unprepared for trying to win the Claret Jug.
Now look at him. Twenty-one and ready to embrace all that is on offer at arguably the most evocative venue in sport.