Follow Player’s path and Bellerive could be Grand for Spieth

JORDAN SPIETH aims to emulate Gary Player by completing his career Grand Slam at Bellerive Country Club this weekend. Player won the 1965 US Open in a play-off against Kel Nagel in Missouri to claim his fourth different Major title. Spieth won the Masters and US Open in 2015 and will now make his second attempt to complete his set since becoming Open champion last year. The American, 25, who has not won since Royal Birkdale because of struggles with his putter, said: “I think I was probably a little more anxious last year. “I think, going in, there was a big focus on it, given it was right after winning the Open Championship, so it was fresh, I was in form, and going to a place that, if I worked up the leaderboard, it would create a lot of noise. “I feel somewhat under the radar this year. I’ve kind of felt that way a lot this year, I don’t mind it.

“But at the same time, this tournament will always be circled until I’m able to hopefully win it some day. It will always be circled to complete the career Grand Slam, which will ultimately achieve a life-long goal for me.

“So certainly there is emphasis in my head on it, but nothing overpowering, nothing that takes over once I start on the first tee.”

Rory McIlroy at the Masters and Phil Mickelson at the US Open both missed their chance to seal their Grand Slams this season.

South Africa’s Player, 82, said: “I have such great memories of Bellerive – some of the best of my life.

“I was the first modern-day player to win the Grand Slam ahead of Jack Nicklaus. I holed every conceivable putt and completed the Grand Slam at the age of 29. That’s something that will live with me forever.”