Spieth ‘aware’ of Hogan legacy at Open
In-form Texan set to emulate former golfer’s three-majors-in-a-row feat
Helping Spieth’s case is the fact that he will not have to deal with injured defending champion McIlroy. PHOTO: AFP
ST ANDREWS:
Jordan Spieth staked his case for golfing glory at St Andrews on Wednesday, saying he was fully aware of what was within his grasp at this week’s British Open.
The 21-year Texan has taken the golfing world by storm from the start of the year, winning the Masters and US Open, only the sixth man ever to do so.
Tiger Woods was the last to achieve that feat in 2002 and before him Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan (twice) and Craig Wood did likewise.
However, only Hogan in 1953, when he was 40, made it three in a row by winning the Open Championship.
He eventually failed to achieve the Grand Slam at the final hurdle simply because he was unable to play in the PGA Championship which in those days overlapped with the British and was in matchplay format.
Asked if the Hogan “triple crown” was something that was playing on his mind, Spieth replied, “Sure, I’m aware. I think it’s extremely special to have a chance to do what only one other person in the history of golf has done.
“But by the time I start on Thursday, it won’t be in my head. It’ll be about how I can bring this Open Championship down to just another event.”
The remarkable speed of Spieth’s rise to the top can be seen by the fact that he first played the Open just two years ago, winning the John Deere Classic the week before to earn a late slot in the tournament.
Even last year, despite a second place finish in the Masters, few would have gambled on him being in such an elevated position, especially with the way Rory McIlroy was dominating golf.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2015.
Jordan Spieth staked his case for golfing glory at St Andrews on Wednesday, saying he was fully aware of what was within his grasp at this week’s British Open.
The 21-year Texan has taken the golfing world by storm from the start of the year, winning the Masters and US Open, only the sixth man ever to do so.
Tiger Woods was the last to achieve that feat in 2002 and before him Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan (twice) and Craig Wood did likewise.
However, only Hogan in 1953, when he was 40, made it three in a row by winning the Open Championship.
He eventually failed to achieve the Grand Slam at the final hurdle simply because he was unable to play in the PGA Championship which in those days overlapped with the British and was in matchplay format.
Asked if the Hogan “triple crown” was something that was playing on his mind, Spieth replied, “Sure, I’m aware. I think it’s extremely special to have a chance to do what only one other person in the history of golf has done.
“But by the time I start on Thursday, it won’t be in my head. It’ll be about how I can bring this Open Championship down to just another event.”
The remarkable speed of Spieth’s rise to the top can be seen by the fact that he first played the Open just two years ago, winning the John Deere Classic the week before to earn a late slot in the tournament.
Even last year, despite a second place finish in the Masters, few would have gambled on him being in such an elevated position, especially with the way Rory McIlroy was dominating golf.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2015.