Jordan Spieth ‘feels he can do things that others haven’t done’ as America’s golfing superstar arrives at St Andrews in pursuit of his third major of the year at The Open
Jordan Spieth has already won The Masters and The US Open this year
He is in Scotland, pursuing victory in the third major at St Andrews
Not since 1953 has a golfer won the first three majors of the year
The pavement in front of Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas was briefly stained green in April. A downpour had caused the ink to bleed from a replica flag hoisted above the main entrance to mark former pupil Jordan Spieth’s victory in the Masters.
It was soon removed and the school’s enthusiastic golf coach Cathy Marino campaigned for a banner like the one displayed a few miles away at his old primary school, St Monica’s, which reads ‘Jordan Spieth — we are proud of you!’
But the school resisted. Their motto is Men for others, leaders for the world, and with surgeons, attorneys and chief executives numbering among their graduates, they did not want one person’s achievements prized above all others. Not even those of a 21-year-old who became the youngest US Open winner since 1922 and only the sixth to capture the US Open and the Masters in the same year, all less than four years after sitting his final exams.
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Jordan Spieth arrived at St Andrews on Monday to gear up for the third major of the year at St Andrews
Spieth is the strong favourite for victory this week in Scotland, after winning the first two majors of 2015
Spieth appeared relaxed in the face of pressure on Monday, and even fell over laughing during his practice
Spieth took victory in the US Open at Chambers Bay this year
Spieth’s first major of the year was the wire-to-wire victory in the Masters at Augusta
After June’s US Open, Spieth was asked about the possibility of winning all four majors in the same year — the next leg being The Open at St Andrews on Thursday. ‘You can’t win them all unless you win the first two,’ he said with an air of confidence that surprised some people.
With chief rival Rory McIlroy missing, his chances are improved, but not since Ben Hogan in 1953 has anyone won the first three majors of the season. To win all four in the same year is unprecedented.
Spieth’s swing coach Cameron McCormick was not surprised, having known his designs on greatness for a decade. ‘I first met him in the summer of 2003 when he was 12,’ said McCormick, an Australian who came to Texas to play college golf 22 years ago and has remained here.
‘What impressed me most was his demeanour, his willingness to tell a stranger who asked him a question about his golf that he had high aspirations. In the first two minutes of expressing his goals, he said: ‘I want to win the Masters and be one of the best players in the world’. He looked me dead in the eye as if to say: ‘This is something I’m going to achieve and you’re going to help me get there’.
