Golden advice from one champ to another
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Phelps knew t he l ook, because he has lived the moment.
The only difference between Phelps and his new friend, Jordan Spieth, is that Phelps was expected to perform his magic — as if on cue — in the pool and Spieth is expected to do it on the golf course.
Expectations — not those from the public, but from other elite athletes themselves — can be suffocating.
Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, walked 18 holes following Spieth in Thursday’s first round of the PGA Championship — the only major championship Spieth needs to win to complete a career Grand Slam.
And what Phelps saw in Spieth at Quail Hollow was a frustrated champion. Phelps saw himself in Spieth, channeling back to the rare days he had in the pool when the results didn’t match his own heightened expectations.
Spieth, only three weeks removed from winning the British Open at Royal Birkdale, did not look himself en route to shooting a 1-over 72 to stand five shots off the lead held by Thorbjorn Olesen and Kevin Kisner.
Phelps, while he walked inside the ropes with his wife, Nicole, found himself tempted to say something motivational to Spieth during his struggles, but thought better of it.
“For me, whenever I had something bad happen, I used it for motivation,’’ Phelps told The Post. “That was something I wanted to say [to Spieth], but I don’t want to step over that boundary.’’
Spieth and Phelps spent time together in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a couple of weeks before t he British Open and have become friends. Spieth has dined with Phelps and picked his brain “about mental approach and preparation stuff.’’
In what has become part of the lore from his memorable British Open victory, Spieth’s caddie, Michael Greller, reminded Spieth of his time spent with Phelps during a moment in the final round when his player was struggling. As a motivational ploy, Greller’s point was to let Spieth know he’s every bit the champion that Phelps is and not to forget it.
Phelps said hearing Spieth reveal that to reporters after his Open victory was “incredible.’’
“He’s a very special breed in this sport and he’s got a long career ahead of him,’’ Phelps said. “It’ll be fun to watch where he takes it and what he does.’’
Phelps, with his record 28 Olympic medals (23 gold) in swimming, can be considered a bit of an authority on what a “special breed’’ of athlete looks like. He, too, can relate to the massive expectations that come with profound success.
“I felt it from my experience going from 2004 [when he won six Olympic gold medals] and leading into 2008 and people were telling me, ‘You could win eight,’ ’’ Phelps said.
Phelps went on and won those eight gold medals.
“At end of the day, the only thing that I did was focus on what I had to do,” he said. “I couldn’t get caught up on all [the hype]. I knew I had to keep the blinders on and make sure I’m staring at the black line at the bottom of the pool.’’
This is an example of the wisdom Phelps wants to impart to Spieth.
Spieth told reporters Wednesday that he was more “free and relaxed at a major than I think I’ve ever felt.’’
It certainly didn’t show after he carded loose bogeys on Nos. 5 and 6 (the 14th and 15th holes of his round that started on No. 10) that left him 3-over with three holes to play.
“I don’t think I was as free rolling as I thought I would be, as you can tell by some frustration,’’ Spieth said.