Phoenix, AZ …
This year’s 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale will be extra special for former World No. 1 Jordan Spieth.
The American will be making his fifth appearance in golf’s oldest Major but a first at the famed Southport club that will be playing host for a ninth occasion to golf’s oldest Major Championship.
Spieth was just a handful of days short of his 15th birthday when he got his first look at Royal Birkdale and that was in 2008 when he participated in the Junior Open Championship at nearby Hesketh Golf Club, and also a former Open Championship qualifying host venue.
Jordan Spieth was just days short of his 15th birthday when he first visited Royal Birkdale. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
As is customary, all those competing in the Junior Open were afforded the opportunity to attend The Open including Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, and now competing on the LGPA Tour, who won the 2008 Junior Open.
The opening rounds of the 2008 Open was dominated with news of Greg Norman and then new wife, Chris Evert who were still on their honeymoon after the pair of golf and tennis World No. 1s were married in Scotland’s Skibo Castle.
Norman soon put himself into contention as his new wife followed behind the ropes and in fact, the Australian went into the final round leading by two but is was Dubiner Padraig Harrington, and looking likely not to play due to a wrist injury, who pulled off the European Tour ‘Shot of the Year’ in hitting a 5-wood to four feet at the 71st hole and become the first European in more than a century to win back-to-back Open’s.
Spieth had been asked on the eve of this week’s WM Phoenix Open his thoughts, and aside from the Masters at Augusta National, on the three other Major venues this season.
Royal Birkdale and playing host this year to the 146th Open Championship. (Photo – R&A)
It’s when the Texan recalled his visit to Royal Birkdale and remembering also the weather that week that resulted in the cut being made at a high 9-over par and then with 40 mph gusts greeting those competing in the last round.
“Royal Birkdale, I have been there and I was actually there when it was last played there playing the Junior Open next door at a club called Hesketh Golf Club”, said Spieth.
“We walked over and I watched the Wednesday and Thursday rounds, which were just a beating of a day, if you all remember.
“I mean, it was just terrible weather. I know it’s one of the hardest venues. Other than that, I don’t know much about it, just that it’s going to be probably higher scoring again this year.”
And while Quail Hollow, and venue for the PGA Championship, is familiar to most PGA Tour players Spieth could have an edge on those qualifying for the 2017 US Open that is being staged for a first occasion at Erin Hills.
Spieth competed in the 2011 US Amateur at the course in Wisconsin and reached the semi-final stages.
Erin Hills GC and where Jordan Spieth won through to the semi-finals of the 2011 US Amateur. (Photo – Erin Hills)
“I recall playing well at Erin Hills whenI played the U.S. Amateur,” he said.
“I got to the quarterfinals before losing, and I want to say my dad was on the bag, which is pretty cool. Yeah, it was a fun golf course. Logistically, I’m interested to see what will happen. There is just a two-lane road in and out.
“But I’m sure everything will be set up to make it as easy as possible. The golf course should play very, very tough and be weather-dependent.”
And as for Quail Hollow and venue for the year’s final Major, the PGA Championship, Spieth is more interested in seeing the changes they’re made to some greens at the North Carolina course that plays host to the annual PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship.
“I’m familiar with Quail Hollow as I have played before and it’s one of my favourite tournaments and one of my favourite golf courses in the country,” he said.
“I really, really liked it. They made some changes to it, so I’m interested to see it, and they have changed the greens since I played. But having played there is nice. There are a lot of players, namely Rory, who will be very tough to beat there, given his history. And then this year will be very weather dependent.”
