The exterior of Royal Troon Golf Club's clubhouse is remarkably unremarkable. It's no more regal looking than that of Cedar Crest or any other Dallas muny.
The rather plain front door, though, proves to be a portal to Royal Troon's 138-year history. Two glimmering display cases fill the right wall of the main corridor, one with vintage photos and artifacts from the club itself, the other honoring the eight men who have won British Opens here dating to 1923.
I asked Jordan Spieth on Tuesday whether he had paused to peruse the row of champions -- and, if so, whether he noticed any patterns.
"Yeah," he said, breaking into smile. "Americans and actually Texans. A little bit of both in there."
I think my game in general over the course of the next, hopefully, 20 to 30 years out here will show that this style of golf plays to my strengths. Does that mean this week it may? I don't know.
Spieth knew where this storyline was heading. Yes, Troon's last six British Open winners are Americans, the most recent two of which are North Texans -- Dallas native Justin Leonard (1997) and Westlake resident Todd Hamilton (2004).
"Man, I just feel like there's so much added pressure off of that," Spieth continued, this time chuckling. "I don't know how I'm even going to hit a shot this week."
The thought of Spieth winning the 145th British Open and thus creating a consecutive Texas Triumvirate of Troon champions seems so preposterous, so contrived, that it can't possibly happen.
Now, the idea that Spieth might earn a victory unto itself, relying on his sheer talent and will, regardless of what has happened in past British Opens here? That certainly could happen.
Spieth proved that last July at St. Andrews, where he came within one stroke of getting into the four-hole playoff won by Zach Johnson.
If Spieth believed in fate or bad luck or the will of royal and ancient golf gods, he probably wouldn't have shared that private plane ride home with Johnson, or tweeted photos of himself cradling and drinking from the Claret Jug.
"It's something I've now held in my hands," Spieth said Tuesday. "I crave to have that trophy in my possession at some point. And to reach a third leg of the [career] grand slam this week would be a fantastic achievement of a lifelong goal of mine."
Many of the reporters who filled the room during Spieth's pre-tournament news conference were so intent on grilling him about his decision to withdraw from the Olympics that they might have missed the confidence in his eyes and voice and words as he discussed his love of this tournament.
And his admiration of Royal Troon, after three days of seeing it in person for the first time.
"I think my game in general over the course of the next, hopefully, 20 to 30 years out here will show that this style of golf plays to my strengths," Spieth said. "Does that mean this week it may? I don't know.
"But I love this style of golf. I feel comfortable playing this style of golf, and I think that this tournament is one that we certainly put emphasis on."