Rory’s out to foil Spieth bid to join 24 club
RORY McILROY admits a fifth Major is long overdue as he seeks a third US PGA victory with the added incentive of preventing Jordan Spieth from beating him to a career Grand Slam.
Spieth’s dramatic Open Championship victory at Royal Birkdale saw him join Jack Nicklaus in winning three different majors before the age of 24 and he can surpass Tiger Woods as the youngest winner of all four of the game’s biggest prizes at Quail Hollow.
Woods was 24 years, seven months and 25 days old when he won the 2000 Open at St Andrews by eight shots, part of the ‘Tiger Slam’ of the US Open, Open and US PGA that year and the 2001 Masters.
Spieth celebrated his 24th birthday just four days after lifting the Claret Jug.
“I feel like I’ve been going for a fifth major for a long time,” said the 28-year-old Northern Irishman. “I think it’s about time I stepped up and won one. I’m excited to go back to Quail Hollow.
“It is one of those courses that I’ve had a lot of success on in the past. I’ve played well there basically every time I’ve went.
“I’ve had a couple of wins in Charlotte and a few other top 10s. I’ve been beaten in a play-off once before, also.
“So to turn up to major championships knowing you have a chance to win and to already have a couple of Wanamaker trophies...it would be nice to make that a hat-trick.”
In contrast to McIlroy, Spieth has played Quail Hollow just once before and finished in a tie for 32nd in 2013, when McIlroy slipped to a share of 10th after two closing rounds of 73.
But having played with Spieth in the first two rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, McIlroy is well aware of what Spieth can do. He would just like him to wait a year to do it.
“Jordan has a great chance at completing a career Grand Slam, which would be huge for the game,” McIlroy said. “Tiger did it at 24. Jordan has a great chance to do it at the same age.
“My chance doesn’t come until April next year in the Masters, so I can play well but if Jordan plays better, then I take my hat off to him.
“He is great for the sport and I sent him a text after he won The Open telling him that. But obviously he can wait until 2018 to do it!”