Spieth ready to bring home Claret Jug again
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – That was one ceremony Jordan Spieth could have done without.
The three-time major champion had to surrender Monday the British Open Championship Claret Jug he won last year in spectacular fashion at Royal Birkdale. While he’s dreaded the mo- ment for weeks, Spieth was prepared to hand over the prized possession in what he thought would be a simple event.
Instead, as recent tradition calls for, Spieth ran into a crowd of photographers and TV cameras, officials and onlookers in an elaborate ceremony. It was not an enjoyable experience, Spieth said, especially after sharing the coveted prize with family members, friends and fans for a year. “But it’s done,” Spieth said ahead of his first practice round at Carnoustie. “Hopefully only out of my possession for a week.”
On paper, however, Spieth is up against it as far as successfully defending his title. After a grueling 2017 in which he won three tournaments, Spieth hasn’t been right all year, as a December battle with mononucleosis left
him bedridden for days and hindered his preparation for 2018.
Playing catch up all year, Spieth has battled putting woes — he’s 175th in Strokes Gained: Putting — and then, just when he felt he conquered that demon, his ball-striking went awry. In 15 individual starts, he has but four
top-10 finishes. Since his best finish of the year, a third in the Masters when he closed with a 64, he has missed two cuts and finished in ties for 21st, 32nd,
41st and 42nd.
And Spieth missed the cut with Ryan Palmer in the team format in the Zurich Classic when he hit shots into the water on the last two holes.
But Spieth, 24, doesn’t doubt his ability to turn the switch and win his fourth major, no matter what his current form is. He’s rejuvenated after a three-week break, the last seven days spent “grinding,” he said, on parts of his game that needed attention.
“I was kind of dragging along, cutline golf for a while,” said Spieth, a winner of 11 PGA Tour titles. “I needed to kind of get away from the game.”
For much of 2018, Spieth has been more mechanical than natural, thinking far more technically than freely. He became lost in his search for perfection.
But on his initial visit to the ageless ground of Carnoustie, Spieth already feels young and free again.
“Coming to an Open Championship requires a lot of feel and imagination, and I think that’s what I’ve needed a bit in my game,” Spieth said. “I’d gotten very technical and very into making everything perfect instead of kind of the way I normally play. This week provides that opportunity where you don’t know how far the ball is necessarily going off the tee. You need to play to spots and then you have to use your imagination from there.”
Despite his recent struggles, Spieth remains confident in one aspect of his game — his ability to rebound. He has won tournaments after missing a cut. And there is no better evidence for Spieth’s knack to recover than last year’s final round of the Open at Royal Birkdale. He was miserable the first 13 holes, making five bogeys and wasting his three-shot, 54-hole lead. Then he was spectacular, going birdie-eaglebirdie-birdie-par to topple Matt Kuchar.
There will be no panic in his bag when he steps to the tee for the first round, no bad thoughts racing through his head. He hasn’t had a great year, but Spieth will remind everyone there is still time to have a great year.
Starting with the Open.
“I feel like I’m in a position now with every part of my game to win,” Spieth said. “I attacked the places that really needed some strong work. That combination with an Open Championship, the
“Coming to an Open Championship requires a lot of feel and imagination, and I think that’s what I’ve needed a bit in my game.” Jordan Spieth
way it needs to be played, makes for a really good spot for me to kick back into shape.”