Jordan Spieth confident: 'I have a chance to make history' at U.S. Open
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- Jordan Spieth didn't break 80 in his last competitive round at Chambers Bay, tapping in for an 83 and failing to qualify for the match-play portion of the 2010 U.S. Amateur.
Safe to say he's come a ways since then.
He's the reigning Masters champion after crushing the field and Augusta National in April to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win a green jacket at age 21. He's won four times in his last 17 starts worldwide, adding another seven top-10s to his resumé during that span. And he's the No. 2 player in the world with an eye on the future instead of a brain pondering the past.
"I have a chance to make history in many ways," Spieth said Monday before heading out for nine holes to further his preparation for the 115th edition of the U.S. Open beginning Thursday at Chambers Bay.
To do that his focus is on this week instead of the success he's achieved at such an early age. Oh, he looks back at the Masters from time to time — last week while watching TV he decided to get the green jacket and slip it on at his home in Dallas — but tomorrow is what is most important.
"There are certainly a lot of goals left for the year," Spieth said. " ... If I didn't do anything the rest of the year, I'd be pretty frustrated at the second half.
"You can't win a Grand Slam unless you win the first. So I'm the only one with that opportunity this year. So I'm going to go ahead and focus on this week and see if I can put myself in contention."
He's certainly one of the favorites. A winner of two PGA Tour titles this year, Spieth said his tie for third in The Memorial two weeks ago was exactly what he needed heading to the Pacific Northwest.
He's also done his best to wipe the memory of his 83 on this links-style course out of his mind.
"I really enjoy the layout. I think it's going to be a fun challenge. It's a beautiful challenge, as well," Spieth said. "I think it might be slower rounds of golf, given the size of the greens and the difficulty of the course.
"So at least we have some nice views."
The course, he said, which is firm and fast and getting baked at the moment, looks better, too, after changes were made following the 2011 Amateur, which softened some of the sharpest edges. He doesn't mind hearing negative reviews of the course, with some players saying after recon trips that the course was too severe, especially on the massive green complexes.
"First of all, if you are going to talk negative about a place, you're almost throwing yourself out to begin with, because golf is a mental game," he said. "Plus, the U.S. Open is about as challenging mentally as any tournament in the world. So you have to go in positively. You have to go in with enough confidence to get yourself into contention."
Spieth also may have a secret weapon by his side, although caddie Michael Greller's story is far from stealthy. Greller is a former sixth-grade teacher in these parts who used to caddie at Chambers Bay in the summers. He got married here in 2013 with Spieth in attendance and still lives in the area.
While Greller downplays his role — he hasn't caddied here since 2011 — Spieth said his sidekick's experience can't hurt. And Spieth doesn't mind sharing the spotlight with Greller, who has many friends in the galleries and kids asking for his autograph.
"I think it's going to help driving the ball, sight lines and understanding when things get firm he's going to know where it would run off to a little better," Spieth said.
"As far as Michael's fame ... we're giving him some smack for it and he's taking it from his caddy buddies, too. I think he's on the front page of the sports section. But it's really cool. As far as interviews and all that goes, he just tries to stay out of it. He wants to kind of stay under the radar. He's certainly done stuff for media before. But I think this week he's got so much on his plate, he's going to throw it away and focus. It's a major week, so we try to limit everything we do this week, off the course."
On the course, Spieth said he's sharp, relaxed and ready.
"I'm pleased with the way my ball-striking has come on in the last month," He said. "I've been working really hard on it. We've done a great job. I wish the tournament started two days ago, I'm striking the ball really well.
"Now it's about continuing to do so."