The Scotsman

Spieth determined to ‘walk tall’ as he brings himself into

- By MARTIN DEMPSTER

Brooks Koepka, the major machine, is lurking ominously on the Royal Portrush leaderboar­d, but so, too, is Jordan Spieth, who boasts one of the best recent records in the Open Championsh­ip.

Before winning at Royal Birkdale in 2017, the Texan had been in the mix at St Andrews two years earlier. He then led going into the final round at Carnoustie 12 months ago before slipping to joint ninth after a disappoint­ing closing effort.

Now Spieth is heading into the weekend in contention once again in the game’s oldest major, having opened with rounds of 70 and 67 to have the leaders in his sights on the County Antrim coast.

In his second circuit, the 25-year-old was all over the place at times, hitting particular­ly wild tee shots at the tenth and 14th holes. It’s the score that matters, though, and a burst that saw him go birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie from the fifth set up the good day’s work by the three-time major winner.

“At some point I hope to be playing off the short grass this week,” he joked afterwards. “I think I hit maybe two or three fairways today. I mean, I posted a score that was pretty incredible from where I played my second shots from.”

Spieth was out of sorts earlier in the season before coming under fire for publicly criticisin­g his caddie, Michael Greller, during last month’s US Open at Pebble Beach. The partnershi­p is still intact, though, and Spieth is enjoying being back in the thick of things in a major, particular­ly this one.

“I think it’s something very important to draw back on,” he said of that impressive record in the R&A event. “I think I need to be looking at the positives of the history of this tournament and my history in major championsh­ips versus focusing on anything else.

“If I can walk tall knowing

 ??  ?? 0 Rory Mcilroy says his farewells after he was afforded a rousing reception at the 18th hole at Portrush. He failed to make the cut at the
0 Rory Mcilroy says his farewells after he was afforded a rousing reception at the 18th hole at Portrush. He failed to make the cut at the

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