If words and demeanour are anything to go by, the only heat Jordan Spieth will feel at the PGA Championship will come from the brutal Charlotte humidity. Whatever else may burden Spieth at Quail Hollow, it will not be external expectation.
Spieth stands on the verge of history. On Sunday evening, he could become the youngest player to complete a grand slam of major titles. Timing is everything; Spieth only completed the third element of that haul, at the Open, less than three weeks ago. The 24-year-old’s euphoria after Royal Birkdale has not yet subsided.
“There will be pressure,” he said. “This is a major. This is one of the four pivotal weeks of the year we focus on. So there will certainly be pressure. I’m simply stating, there won’t be added expectations or pressure.
“I just don’t feel it. It’s not a burning desire to have to be the youngest to do something and that would be the only reason there would be added expectations. If I don’t win this in the next 10 years, maybe there’s added pressure then and hopefully we don’t have to have this conversation in 10 years. If we do, then it might be a different.
“But it was only weeks ago I was able to get the third leg and that’s so fresh in my mind. I’m so happy about that I can’t add pressure to this week. I’m here so I’m going to go ahead and try but I believe I’m going to have plenty of chances. I’m young enough and I believe in my abilities that it will happen at some point.
“I’m free-rolling and it feels good. I’m about as free and relaxed at a major as I think I’ve ever felt. Maybe since Chambers Bay, arriving at Chambers Bay after the [2015] Masters. It was almost like ‘I’ve accomplished something so great this year that anything else that happens, I can accept.’ That takes that pressure, that expectation away.” And at Chambers Bay? Spieth won the US Open.
There is fascination beyond Spieth’s bid to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen in winning golf’s big four. Quail Hollow has long-since been regarded as the domain of Rory McIlroy, sufficiently so to make him the favourite. If Spieth prevails at a venue where he has competitively played only once before, it would add to the sense he is a phenomenon.
Nonetheless, the theory a long, soft venue plays perfectly into McIlroy’s hands, with Spieth’s inexperience here counting against him, is offset by two things. The first is Spieth’s ability to rapidly decode courses, which has a solid basis in history with Augusta and St Andrews, two places where he has done exactly that. The second came when the Texan offered a fresh view on what precise skills will be required over the coming days.
“There is Sub Air [drainage] here in 15-month old greens,” Spieth said. “My drives are sticking, everyone’s are sticking. They stop where they land. I’m hitting two extra clubs into greens.
“But the greens aren’t like the fairways. The greens are firm and they are grainy. You can land balls within three paces of each other and end up 40ft apart. You have to have unbelievable distance control to get the ball close to pins. So it’s going to be a challenge to have close birdie putts.”
McIlroy showed his power during a practice session on Wednesday in which he continually drove balls out of a driving range measuring 350yds. It is undoubtedly the duel most golf fans would cherish on Sunday; Spieth v McIlroy, a battle which has been sadly missing from the denouement of recent majors.
“Rory is a guy who is very difficult if you come into a one-on-one type situation no matter where it is, and especially in majors, because he’s not afraid to hit the shot,” Spieth said. “He plays so aggressively and that’s what you have to do to win. You’re going to lose some tournaments because of it, but you’re going to win a lot more than playing any other way.
“He won this tournament by eight shots. Obviously that doesn’t come from playing too safe. Even when he had the lead, he kept his foot on the gas pedal. He’s done that for dozens of worldwide victories. If you’re matched up on Sunday, and you get to choose somebody, you want to be able to play against somebody like Rory, who has four major championships and is one of the most accomplished players in this field. But he is one to fear in that position because of what he’s capable of doing and how he’s going to do it.”
It was a sad counterpoint that Woods, who won this championship four times, was subject to a court hearing for a driving under the influence charge as Spieth et al completed final preparations. Community service and a rehabilitation programme beckon for Woods. Meanwhile his sport moves on apace, with Spieth in the vanguard.
Danny Willett’s latest bid to reverse a dreadful run has seen the 2016 Masters champion part company with his long-time coach, Pete Cowen. Sean Foley, who once coached Woods and now tutors Justin Rose, has started an alliance with Willett at Quail Hollow. Willett had his first session with Foley on Tuesday before a practice round in the company of Rose later in the day.
