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Jordan Spieth battled through well-documented struggles on the course before getting his first win in nearly four years just last month at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
During those four years there were times when just about everyone who follows golf wondered if the three-time major championship winner would ever lift a trophy over his head again, which was crazy considering how good he was at the start of his career.
Spieth is now definitely back and this week seems like it could be a perfect one for him to make history – a win at the PGA Championship would make him just the six player to ever win a career grand slam.
I don’t know about you but I can feel a Spieth win in my bones this week. It would be some really darn good television if he’s in contention on Sunday because he’s become must-see TV whenever he’s battling for a win. He’s just easy to root for and the storyline about overcoming his struggles is so relatable.
Spieth comes into this week on a bit of a heater. He has five top 5 finishes in his last 8 tournaments and had a ninth place finish last week at the Byron Nelson.
Dude is feeling it, which makes golfs fans feeling good, too.
Kiawah is going to be a brutal challenge this week. There’s no doubt about that. High winds off the ocean are expected and that will only make this very difficult course all the more difficult.
Those seem like conditions, however, that Spieth can thrive in. He’s won a U.S. Open in at burnt out Chambers Bay and won an Open Championship at windswept Royal Birkdale. Spieth is just built for moments and places like these.
The one concern here is that Spieth has mentioned that the pressure of completing a career grand slam can definitely be felt during these events, and rightfully so – only five other players (Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods) in history have pulled that off. It’s not easy, especially these days, but a win here for Spieth would make him a legend. That’s all some heady stuff.
Spieth, though, seems different this time around. He’s gone through the struggles and has come back to the top. That experience has to have him looking at things differently now. He has to feel more grateful for what he has accomplished and what he’s back to experiencing.
I feel like all of that has to free him up for a big week this week. I think it will free him up to make history. At least I hope.
Quick hits: Mets’ Pillar ‘fine’ after taking fastball to his face… Adam Sandler plays hoops in New York… Hockey announcers loses his mind during fight… And more.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
– Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar was hit in the face with a fastball last night and somehow got up and walked off the field under his own power. He later tweeted that he was fine, which is incredible seeing how he TOOK A FASTBALL TO THE FACE.
– Fans loved seeing the great Adam Sandler playing some pickup hoops in Long Island. And yes, his shorts were incredible.
– A NHL announcer lost his mind during a fight between Gabriel Landeskog and Brayden Schenn.
– Braves pitcher Huascar Ynoa probably wishes he didn’t punch the dugout bench because now he’s going to miss a bunch of time with an injury.
– Atlanta’s Tony Snell of all people had the most unique statistical season in NBA history.
