From James Corrigan, to Tulsa
Jordan Spit leaves today for the US PGA Championship with his mission to finish the Grand Slam tournament together with the last player to achieve the feat, as well as with the golfer who is supposed to enter the pantheon.
In 2000, Tiger Woods joined Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, and 22 years later, his American compatriot was given a great opportunity to join one of the game’s most exclusive clubs.
Last month, Rory McIlroy had the closest connection to this brand of immortality when he finished second at the Masters, and although the Northern Irishman has his own ambitions to renew the main course after eight years of fruitless running, he will have a spot in the front row to see if four years the younger American can succeed where he has failed.
After finishing second in Dallas on Sunday and winning three weeks earlier at Hilton Head, this is considered Spieth’s best shout-out so far after five previous attempts (his best US PGA final since winning the 2017 Open was a draw for third in 2019, six behind Brooks Koepka).
However, Spieth does not see it that way.
“It’s hard to say this is the best chance I’ve had to finish the tournament, because you have to play three good rounds to have a chance on Sunday,” said Spiet.
“I don’t talk about it much, but for sure, if you just tell me I’m going to win a tournament for the rest of my life, I’d say I want to win this one.
“If you told me before my career started that I would ever win a tournament, I would say Masters, because that was my favorite. But things are changing, and in the long run, it would be really great to say that you have won the four biggest golf tournaments in the world. “
There is no doubt that grouping at 8.11 am (local time) is the triple ball. It is known that McIlroy once said that “playing with the Tiger gives me a headache” and spoke about the distractions caused by the circus. However, Spieth is determined to enjoy the experience.
“I think you have to accept it,” Spiet said. “One day I’ll be able to tell my child, ‘Hey, I have to play Tiger in the specialty.’ You know last year [after Woods’s car crash] none of us were sure it would ever happen again.
“I know it’s great for golf, but it’s selfishly exciting to be able to play these events with the person you adored growing up. You know there will be extra noise – you have to wait longer for the footpaths, when the Tiger ends up in a hole, there will be people who will leave immediately.
“You just know it’s going to happen, and honestly, if there’s enough of it, it doesn’t bother you. It’s when it’s super quiet, and the only thing that screams is when you flinch.”
This will be Woods’ second racing event in 16 months since he made a notable appearance at the Masters last month. Spieth was as impressed as anyone, but a little embarrassed.
“I didn’t feel very well knowing that Tiger was on one leg and he made an incision and I didn’t,” Spiet said. “What he did was pretty amazing, considering everything that happened. [After the crash in which Woods almost lost his right leg] I was like, “Man, I hope one day I can go around with my son” … and here he is on a course that a major won before [in 2007]. You can never doubt a person. He continues to amaze people. “
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