Jordan Spieth missed out on history in the Open Championship at St. Andrews last month, but he will have another shot at the history books this week in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.
Spieth, who recently turned 22, fell one stroke short of the playoff won by Zach Johnson in Scotland as he tried to join Ben Hogan (1953), who remains the only player to win the first three legs of the modern Grand Slam in one season.
Beginning Thursday, Spieth will try to join Hogan and Tiger Woods (2000) as the only men to win three major titles in one year, something he wasn’t even sure of.
“I don’t know how many guys have done three majors in a year,” said Spieth, who has won six tournaments since the end of last November. “I’m sure there’s only been a few.”
The feat has been accomplished only twice on the LPGA Tour, with Babe Didrikson Zaharias winning the only three majors played in the circuit’s inaugural year of 1950 and Inbee Park of South Korea claiming the first three in 2013.
Before Spieth, only 13 players had won the first two majors of the year. The list of those who won any two in a year gives an idea of the magnitude of his achievement.
It is a who’s who of golf greatness: Gene Sarazen (1922, 1932), Walter Hagen (1924), Bobby Jones (1926, 1930), Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1948, 1951), Sam Snead (1949), Jack Burke Jr. (1956), Arnold Palmer (1960, 1962), Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1980), Gary Player (1974), Tom Watson (1977, 1982), Nick Faldo (1990), Nick Price (1994), Mark O’Meara (1998), Tiger Woods (2002, 2005, 2006), Padraig Harrington (2008) and Rory McIlroy (2014).
McIlroy, coming off an ankle injury that knocked him out of title defenses in the Open at St. Andrews and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, will be back this week to defend his PGA title.
Spieth wound up tied for fourth at St. Andrews.
“We played good golf, given everything,” he said. “It’s still good to play a major and lose by one shot. But that was one shot from being the greatest week of my life instead of being on the back burner. That’s what put it in perspective for me.
“It’s a tough feeling to be that close in a major (and not win). I believe I’ll have plenty of opportunities like I did but, still, when it doesn’t work out, it’s tough to swallow a little bit.”
Despite the disappointment, Spieth isn’t changing his mindset.
Spieth knew the historical implications long before he got to St. Andrews, and it is the same heading toward Whistling Straits.
“I really don’t think it changes at all,” said Spieth, who in the Open tried to focus on the task at hand rather than what winning would mean. “Like I said, the historical part never factored into my preparation or knowledge of the course or whatever. All in all, I have the exact same feeling. I may feel better.
“I knew what was at stake, and there was an added element to that off the course. Those were the questions everyone was asking. That’s what the crowd was saying as you go hole to hole in the practice round. ‘The Grand Slam is alive.’
“I wish they were still saying that, but since they aren’t, that might ease the burden.”
Said Johnson after receiving the Claret Jug: “I can’t describe the magnitude as to what (Spieth) was going through because I’ve never been in that position. We haven’t really seen that with the exception of Tiger.
“Truthfully, he could be sitting here (with the trophy). He’s a phenomenal talent. And I’m telling you right now, he’s a better person than a golfer.”
First golf had the Impregnable Quadrilateral, which is what Jones’ feat was first called after he captured the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur in 1930.
Then Palmer and sportswriter Bob Drum came up with the term Grand Slam, which long has been used in bridge, in 1960 after Arnie won the first two majors of the year and was heading to the Open Championship seeking a third.
When Woods claimed the last three majors of 2000 and won the Masters the following April, they called it the Tiger Slam.
Last week, Spieth was asked about the American Slam.
“When did that start?” he asked.
That one also can be attributed to Woods, when he won the first two majors in 2002, then was blown away in the wind and shot 81 in the third round at Carnoustie while trying to win the Open Championship.
Woods fell one stroke short of the American Slam, which would be winning all three majors in the U.S. in one year, when he lost to Rich Beem at Hazeltine.
That means Spieth can make history by being the first to win the American Slam.
–Story courtesy of The Sports Xchange, TSX Golf Editor Tom LaMarre
