SPIETH: I’M NOT TIGER
Jordan plays down hype
JORDAN SPIETH admits he will never be the new Tiger Woods.
Spieth stormed to two major titles before the age of 21 in a sensational 2015.
He was widely tipped to dominate the sport like Woods, who had many opponents beaten before a ball had been struck.
But the 23-year-old from Dallas says the days when one man looked down on the rest are gone.
Spieth is joint favourite to win the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale along with world No.1 Dustin Johnson.
But he reckons whoever wins at Royal Birkdale, no one will take on the air of invincibility Woods enjoyed in his prime.
Spieth said: “I wouldn’t pin your hopes on doing what Tiger’s done.
“I experienced a year of it, but he continued to do it for years. I doubt you will see dominance by one person again.
“The younger guys are more fearless now. It’s so different.
“It’s exciting, but it’s different now to having one guy to beat. To tell the truth, I couldn’t name the top four.”
Exciting
The last seven majors have gone to first-time winners and Spieth said: “There is no Big Four. When you have got that many great players, it’s exciting.
“Seven first-time winners from the last seven is an impressive stat but there are a lot of tremendous young play- ® ers. And even when you are talking about firsttime winners you are talking about players like Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.”
Spieth feels he has every chance this weekend after a sunshine break.
“I feel refreshed and raring to go,” said Spieth, who will play his first round tomorrow with defending champion Henrik Stenson and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim.
“It was just nice to get away, put my feet in the sand and take a nice long breath and relax.
“I’ve come back with a little more fire and longing and I’m looking forward to this.”