‘IT’ MATTERS
Rivals amazed by Spieth intangibles as he goes for career Grand Slam
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the best players in the game are flat out marveling at what you’re accomplishing, you know you have more than arrived.
Such is the life of Jordan Spieth, who has the chance in this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow to become the youngest player in the history of golf to complete a career Grand Slam.
The beauty of what Spieth has done — already winning the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open by age 24 — and how he’s done it is that he’s not dominant in any one area of the game. He’s not nearly the longest driver of the golf ball. He’s not the most accurate off the tee. He’s not the best ball-striker with his irons. And his putting is streaky.
Spieth’s greatest gift is that he’s simply really good at everything.
Then, add to that the intangibles. Spieth has an uncanny knack for being at his best in the biggest moments. You need only to look at his last two wins to see that: He holed out from a bunker in a playoff to win the Travelers Championship in June, and he played the last five holes of the British Open in 5-under to win the Claret Jug three weeks later.
“He has that intangible of when he doesn’t have his best stuff — like Hartford [the Travelers] on the back nine — to still find a way to win,’’ Phil Mickelson said Tuesday. “When you say ‘put your finger on it,’ you can’t really identify and say it’s this or it’s that. It’s just that indescribable trait that he has to find a way to get it done, find the will to win.
“He showed it again at the Open and he continues to show it. When you get him near the lead, he’s extremely tough to beat, because he just finds a way to get it out. It’s just that intangible that’s hard to describe, but you can see it.’’
Rory McIlroy, who along with Spieth and Mickelson is one of the three players who are one win away from completing the career Slam, said Spieth “has got that knack.’’
“I call it resilience,’’ McIlroy said. “I don’t know if there’s a better word to describe what it is that he has. But he has got this resilience where he gets himself in positions in tournaments where you don’t think he can come back from, and he does. It’s awfully impressive.
“It’s a mental thing. You can stand and hit the shots that he was hitting for those last five holes at the Open on the range, no problem. But being able to do it under those circumstances, under the pressure, that’s what makes him so good, being in those situations.”
McIlroy, who hasn’t won a major in three years but has had great success at Quail Hollow with two wins at the Wells Fargo Championship and a playoff loss, acknowledged what a Spieth win this week would mean for the sport, calling it “huge for the game.’’
“He’s an absolute star, and it would be great to see him win another one,’’ McIlroy said. “Tiger [Woods] was able to do it at 24, and Jordan has a great chance to do it at the same age, which is historic in itself.’’
Ernie Els marveled at Spieth’s ability to do what he’s done without being headand-shoulders better than his peers at any one element of the game.
“The guy finds a way of getting it done,’’ Els said. “He’s not the longest hitter out there. He’s not the most accurate, but he’s got an overall game that he’s really comfortable with. He’s not trying to get more length out of the tee ball, but he’s really playing his game and grinding it out. That’s a great way to win golf tournaments.
“He’s a special guy. He’s won some events really showing some grit. ... The way he won the Masters and at the Open a couple of weeks ago, it’s just special stuff. You can’t really describe it, but it’s there.’’