Before his latest attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship, Jordan Spieth is refusing to be lured into the idea of making golfing history.
In the modern era, only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have won the career Grand Slam, though Spieth only needs to win the Wanamaker Trophy to join that exclusive club.
Spieth rebounded back from missing the cut at The Masters to win the RBC Heritage in his following event, defeating Patrick Cantlay in a play-off despite ranking 60th in the putting statistics, and the American continued his comeback with a runner-up result at the AT&T Byron Nelson last week.
“I don’t think I talk about it [the career Grand Slam] much with other people,” Spieth told the media on Wednesday. “But it’s certainly at this point, given having won the other three, it’s an elephant in the room for me. It’s a goal of mine.
“But things change, and that has obviously significant meaning. Long term it would be really cool to say that you captured the four biggest golf tournaments in the world that are played in different parts of the world and in different styles, too. So you feel like you kind of accomplished golf when you win a career Grand Slam, I guess.
“I’ve come close a couple of times. This hasn’t necessarily been my most successful major, but I feel good heading into this week. If I can play well these next couple days, given the crowds that will be out there, and I think the weekend might actually feel a little like a breather in a way, so that’s how I’m looking at it.”
Spieth’s best finish at the PGA Championship was runner-up to Jason Day in 2015, the year he won his first two major wins, and he only finished in the top 10 in his next six visits to the tournament.
“Bethpage [2019, tied for third] was the only real chance I had,” Spieth said. “However, I recall that Saturday and Sunday feeling no different than any other majors I’ve competed in; they all feel about the same after the first one.”
“I think looking at it long-term thinking, man, if I’m healthy, I’d look to have 20 chances at it, and maybe 1 out of 20. Those are better odds than I think. I normally get better odds than that. I think just more look at the long term, how many chances you’re going to get, and maybe the bounces will go your way one of those weeks.
