The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Punched in the gut ‘in the best way’
Jordan Spieth does not believe being a Carnoustie rookie will hold him back
Jordan Spieth will forever have his name on the Claret Jug.
But only success at Carnoustie this week will allow him to retain a title that he treasures just as much as the famous trophy he returned on Monday.
Spieth channelled his inner Seve Ballesteros en route to winning at Royal Birkdale last year, making one of the best bogeys in major history on the 13th after hitting his third from the practice range.
One of the first things he did when he returned home was watch the coverage of his win, skipping the first 12 holes of his final round to see how the drama unfolded on TV in the closing stages.
And while the 24-year-old knows the challenge that awaits him on his first visit to Carnoustie, Spieth is not ready to relinquish the Champion Golfer of the Year crown he holds so dear just yet.
“Champion Golfer of the Year is such a cool title,” said the three-time major winner.
“I’m looking forward to having that announcement again as I get on to the tee, this past year’s Champion Golfer of the Year.
“When those words were spoken on the green at Birkdale, it just kind of hit me. It was almost like someone had kind of punched me in the gut in the best way possible.
“Just, you need to realise how special this is, and certainly embrace what it means.
“The Open Championship has always been one of the favourite events of my life to have played in, and I am looking forward to this challenge. I look forward to having those chills go through me as I remember the year before, and obviously get focused and try to do it again.”
Spieth claimed last year’s Open by three shots and has kept his routines very much the same despite admitting he has never visited the challenging links course before this week.
He said: “It’s no different from, kind of, Birkdale or previous Opens or even other majors other than the Masters, courses I haven’t seen.
“We can get a lot of work done within three days and can totally understand the golf course and what it presents with my work, (coach) Cameron McCormick’s work and (caddy) Michael Greller’s work.”
Spieth expects Carnoustie course record holder Tommy Fleetwood to be among the favourites to challenge him for the 147th Open. In the last major to be played, Fleetwood shot a recordequalling final round of 63 at Shinnecock Hills to finish one shot behind eventual champion Brooks Koepka, who retained the US Open title.
“He (Fleetwood) certainly has the game, the capabilities, and is somebody who has proven he’s not afraid of the moment of the shot,” added Spieth.
“I can certainly see him as one of the favourites, somebody who will have a lot of momentum if he works his way up to the lead.
“With the home crowd, guys will want to see a Brit win the Open Championship.
“I mean, that’s such a special moment when that has happened in the past. I think he’s one of the top guys to beat, for sure.
“He’s absolutely just one of the nicest people out here. Everyone very much respects him as much as they respect his game.”
Spieth may not have visited Carnoustie before this week but the course played a crucial part in his golfing development as he watched Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington battle it out in 2007.
The Irishman eventually lifted the Claret Jug in a play-off, with the dramatic climax sealing Spieth’s love of the game and the Open.
“2007 was kind of the height of me starting to fall in love with the game and travel and play,” he said. “I remember watching Sergio and Padraig going at it and I remember that 18th hole.
“I don’t remember specifically where they hit it. I know Sergio had a pretty good look to win the tournament in regulation. I think that’s right, and it just slid by.
“I remember, kind of, the routes that were taken and how good of a score par was on that hole and will continue to be for Open Championships going forward.
“It’s one of probably the toughest closing holes in the Open Championship anywhere and that creates some drama when it comes down to Sunday. I don’t think it will be any different this year.”
Tickets for this week’s championship are available at TheOpen.com/Tickets