Jordan Spieth 'Open' to getting into Phil Mickelson's head in Tuesday match

AKRON, Ohio – Jordan Spieth will try to get in Phil Mickelson’s head.

The world’s No. 2 player, who closed with a 4-under-par 66 at Firestone Country Club in Sunday’s final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational to finish in the top 10, is thinking ahead to his game on Tuesday at the PGA Championship.

At Whistling Straits, Spieth will team with Justin Thomas in a match against Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. And Spieth might bring a large silver needle with him to give Mickelson something to think about.

“I'm going to try to get the U.S. Open trophy flown in so I can sit it on the front of each green for Phil,” Spieth, 22, said with a smile. “That's just dishing it back. We'll see if we can get somebody to carry it around for the round.

“It's the first time I have something on him.”

Mickelson, who has won five majors, has a record six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open without winning one. Mickelson closed with a 74 in the Bridgestone and finished near the bottom at 11 over.

Spieth, who won the Masters in April and the U.S. Open in June, feels good about his chances next week where he’ll try to join Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only players to win three majors in a season in the modern era.

Spieth fired rounds of 70-68-72-66 and said the third round was the only day he didn’t play very well.

“Today was a good solid round,” said Spieth, who has four victories this year. “I had more momentum. I felt more connected, too. Even though I wasn't striking it prior to the round, I just felt like I was a little more in rhythm. … I didn’t miss a fairway with my driver today. If I did, it's because it landed in the correct part, and then it funneled off into the rough. That's really nice out on this golf course. If you can hit your driver and not miss a shot with a driver, you should definitely shoot under par out here.

“ … I was very pleased with the way that we rebounded.”