Daily Star

Spieth Birk to his best

- By NEIL MCLEMAN

JORDAN SPIETH’S four straight birdies on his front nine yesterday brought back memories of his 2017 win at Royal Birkdale.

“I feel for the first time since then I’m at least coming in with a bit of form, a bit of confidence,” said Spieth (inset) after his 65. “And there are similariti­es between Birkdale and here. But I think if I had played any venue in 2017, I would have won that week. I was hitting it the best I had maybe ever hit it in my life.” Sergio Garcia got his Open bid moving with a 68 and a birdie-birdie finish – but only after a police escort.

Spanish ace Garcia, who won the 2017 Masters, got stuck in traffic heading to Royal St George’s.

The star needed police help to make his 3.32pm tee time and said: “I was very happy with the finish. Even happier after how the morning started because of terrible traffic coming in.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom