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With respect to the 2015 Masters and U.S. Open, the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale was the magnum opus in Jordan Spieth’s borderline artistic career.
Much like Spieth himself, Royal Birkdale looks a lot different nine years later.
His 6-iron birdie at the par-3 14th in 2017 is literally no longer possible to recreate, given recent changes to Birkdale included the removal of that par 3 and a renovation and switch of the par-5 15th on the scorecard to No.14. A new par 3 at No.15 was created in time for this week’s Open. The green at No. 15, where Spieth made his iconic “Go get that!” eagle putt has been moved to a more elevated position.
“That [6-iron] was maybe the best shot and the [eagle at 15 was the] best putt I’ve ever hit don’t exist anymore, which is a little unusual,” Spieth said Monday at Royal Birkdale. “Hope to create some more great memories here.”
Spieth, 32, reached the peak of his stardom with that Claret Jug victory, when he joined Jack Nicklaus as the only player to win three different majors at age 23. It made the Texan eligible for the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship each year.
He hasn’t been able to win another major in the almost decade since, despite garnering seven top-10s. They include several golden chances to win at the 2018, 2021 and 2023 Masters, the 2019 PGA at Bethpage and a runner-up to Collin Morikawa at the 2021 Open at Royal St George’s.
Jordan Spieth walks up the 18th fairway during the final round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. David Cannon/R&A
Spieth has won just twice on the PGA Tour since his Royal Birkdale triumph, and this year has been consistent without a single top-10 result.
“I feel better than my results have shown,” Spieth said. “I’m quite frustrated with the results considering I know where my game is at. It’s better than it was four or five years ago when I got back to top 10 in the world. It’s without a doubt better than it was then; it’s just not quite showing up in results. Just a mix of reasons why.
“But a really good opportunity this week to believe that, trust that. [Birkdale] is a fantastic track. Maybe the hardest Open venue, most difficult Open venue, obviously weather dependent. The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally a little bit more, which I think is going to be a good thing.
“Then being able to handle whatever comes your way on a difficult major venue and kind of react a bit less. Should be a really good opportunity this week. I feel like I have a lot of great golf in front of me. I feel like I’m way more optimistic than I’ve been at a lot of different points in my career.”
When asked by a reporter whether he is confident of returning to his brilliant best in 2017, or if he’s had to modify expectations, Spieth was defiant in his answer.
“No, I’ll never believe that until I’m at a point in my career where my health or whatever would be that,” Spieth said. “Because if you give up on reaching your ceiling, then I don’t see a point in playing anymore.
“So, for me it’s always about I’ll do everything I can to be trying to be at the very best in the world because I know that I can be. I have been. It’s nice to have the blueprint.
“I mentioned it this year, that if you are capable of leading in every [statistical] category, then you are capable of doing great things. Even in this season I’ve been able to lead in each of the different [strokes gained] categories. It’s not like it’s been one thing.
“There are things I can do now that I can do significantly better than I could when I was No. 1 in the world. Therefore, there should be nothing to stop me in my own head to be able to search and believe that I can reach that again. I’m 32; I’m not 42. At 42 you’d really have to sacrifice a lot of things to try and do that. I don’t feel like I have to. How old was Phil [Mickelson] when he won his first major? 34?
“There’s plenty of examples where guys have played their best golf from there on. I know my ceiling is where that level was, and so I’m going to strive for it with the type of player that I am now. Knowing me, when the lid pops off the hole, I feel like I can go on a run about as hot as anybody can run. I’m just waiting for that opportunity.”
Spieth fans are, too.
And a recent U.K. heatwave baking out Royal Birkdale seems the ideal venue for one of modern golf’s most creative players to make a comeback.
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Main Image: Thananuwat Srirasant
