The year was 1953 and Ben Hogan won the Masters then took the U.S. Open title.
Then Hogan had to make an incredibly tough decision that no player would face these days.
The PGA Championship would be played July 1-7 while the Open Championship was running July 6-10.
Hogan had never played in the Open Championship so he went to Carnoustie and won.
He didn’t get his shot at the Grand Slam.
Jordan Spieth will this week.
Spieth proved beyond sensational, winning the John Deere Classic on Sunday with his “C” game. He got off to the type of start that loses tournaments but he finished with the type of finish that wins them.
With Rory McIlroy sitting out this 144th Open Championship at St. Andrews, the entire spotlight is on Speith.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson? They are afterthoughts.
It’s all about Spieth and the quest for three straight majors, a feat unaccomplished since Hogan’s trifecta back in 1953.
Is Spieth good enough? Does he have enough experience to negotiate the maze of penal bunkers at the Old Course?
The simple fact is that his game, particularly his short game, is plenty good enough. His putting is superior.
He will have to brave a number of factors — the wind, the weather and the draw. It can come down to luck and thus far, Spieth has been a pretty lucky young man.
It is also very tough to predict who his challengers might be.
The one name that immediately pops up is Rickie Fowler. Butch Harmon has turned him into a serious contender instead of the guy in the orange pants that the 12-year-olds swoon over.
Fowler was tough as nails at Gullane last Sunday, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch and sticking his final approach to two feet to win the Scottish Open.
But is he good enough to beat Spieth?
In fact, is anyone good enough to beat Spieth?
Precedent shows that only three men have won the week before a major then won a major. McIlroy and Woods did it by winning the WGC Bridgestone then the PGA and Phil Mickelson won the Scottish Open then the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013.
Thus far, there’s not much Spieth hasn’t done in chalking up four victories including the two majors.
He flew to Scotland on Sunday night and is prepping for Thursday.
The world will watch his possible march into history.
8 Comments
Paul
Jordan is the real deal!!
Unless there is “hot” player at the “Open” Jordan will prevail & make history.
Steve
Jordan Spieth is the man! He is lucky because he is good. Even if Rory could play, I don’t think anybody can beat Spieth. I hope he remains the humble, polite, respectful, and affable young man that he is.
Hal
we don’t yet know how good he really is??
Hal
we don’t yet know how good he is.. if he wins this week we will know
carl
Are you serious? 4 wins in one year with 2 majors! You probably think that Woods is going to win the British Open. LMAO!!!
DOUG
JORDAN SPIETH IS THE REAL DEAL!!!!. HE’S IS COOL UNDER PRESSURE , HE’S A THINKER ,AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING. THIS IS THE GUY THATS GOING TO BREAK JACK’S MAJOR RECORD, SORRY TIGER!!!!!!
James
Spieth has proven nothing yet!! I don’t believe he’ll make the cut at the ” Open”.
Jeff Scott
I give Jordans’ odds at 2 to 1. I believe he will win, going away. Maybe a new record.