‘Carnasty’ not scary for Spieth
Jordan Spieth knows all about The Open course’s reputation as “Carnasty” despite never stepping foot on its fairways.
But the American insists he’s savouring the chance to be announced on to the first tee as 2017 Open champion rather than running scared.
Carnoustie was dealt the nickname in 1999 as the punishing set-up combined with the wind hampered hopes of low scoring.
Paul Lawrie became the last Scot to lift the Claret Jug with a score of six over after winning a three-man play-off.
Spieth will get his first experience of the Angus links next week when he bids to become the first to defend The Open since Padraig Harrington a decade ago.
He said: “I can’t wait to tee off in that first round and get announced as the 2017 Open champion. That will be such an amazing feeling and will pump me up for that opening tee shot for sure.
“What a cool place to go and defend.
“I’ve never played Carnoustie but then I could probably recite most of the course having watched it on TV. “I know it’s known as ‘Carnasty’ but I’m excited.
“When you play links golf you have to be prepared for anything. It requires so much imagination and I really enjoy that part of the game.
“We experienced everything at Birkdale with the conditions and it was the same at St Andrews. I remember the ball wouldn’t stop rolling on the greens as it was so windy. That was really fun”.
By the time Spieth gets to Carnoustie he’ll have had three weeks off from competition.
And he’s hoping to watch a legend of one sport turn on the style this week as motivation for a bid to do so in his.
Speaking to Today’s Golfer magazine, Spieth said: “I was planning last year to be at Wimbledon but it didn’t happen in the end.
“I turned up at Birkdale on the Sunday then played nine holes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so I’ll probably do the same at Carnoustie.
“It means I can be at the men’s semi-finals on Friday.
“I’m a big fan of Roger Federer and I want to see him before he retires.”