Jordan Spieth took just two days off after arriving home from The Open Championship. There were no shark tales this time, and the only trophy celebration occurred because he shared a flight home with the man who claimed the Claret Jug, Zach Johnson.
Spieth took a shorter layoff because he knew a demanding Firestone Country Club awaited him for this week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. A week off after The Open wouldn’t give him adequate time to prepare for Firestone’s narrow fairways. The Bridgestone also kicks off an important stretch for Spieth, one that hasn’t lost much significance even though the Grand Slam chase is over.
He could become just the third player to win three majors in one year (Ben Hogan, 1953; Tiger Woods, 2000). He also is No. 1 in the FedExCup standings, and has played well enough to guarantee he’ll hold that position when the FedExCup Playoffs begin. He could become No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking with a win this week.
“At the beginning of the year, I wanted to work my way up the world ranking. I didn’t think I could be in this position or have this opportunity,” Spieth said. “I feel blessed with how this year’s gone.”
The Open Championship may have been the only event that didn’t follow the script.
He finished one shot outside of the three-man playoff, won by Zach Johnson, at St. Andrews. After making a long birdie putt at the 16th hole on Sunday, Spieth made bogey at St. Andrews’ all-but-impossible par-4 17th and needed to birdie the final hole to tie for the lead. His wedge shot spun into the Valley of Sin and he made par.
“I have a little bit of revenge that I need to get out from having control of The Open Championship with two holes to go and not closing it out,” Spieth said. “That leaves kind of a bad taste in my mouth, not because of the third (major) in a row, but strictly because you don’t get many opportunities to contend in a major, in an Open Championship at St. Andrews in your life.”
Spieth won at another of golf’s iconic venues, Augusta National, when he rolled to victory at this year’s Masters. He safely escaped Chambers Bay with the U.S. Open trophy after Dustin Johnson’s three-putt at the final hole. Spieth took a week off after winning that second major, catching a shark in the Bahamas during the break.
He was returning to familiar territory after the U.S. Open, though. His next start was the John Deere Classic, which he’d already won in 2013. He won again this year in the week before The Open. This time, Spieth is returning to a course where he’s had less success.
He made his Bridgestone debut last year, finishing 49th in the 72-man field and failing to break par in any of the four rounds.
“It’s a big, meaty golf course,” Spieth said. “It’s a tough one. I struggled with it last year. … It’s going to take some really strong driving of the golf ball to put ourselves in good enough position to hold these greens. From there it’s not over. Tee to green, I think it’s a really good prep for next week, and the greens putt similar.”
Spieth got a look at Whistling Straits, site of next week’s PGA Championship, on Sunday and Monday. He said it would take a “very special” ball-striking week to win the Wanamaker Trophy. “Greens in regulation might be the most important stat next week,” Spieth said.
Trying to win his first World Golf Championship will come first, though.
“Getting in contention this week is extremely important, and how I’m going to finish out this tournament and be prepared for next week,” Spieth said. “I wanted to be on my best as early as I could, and that’s why I only took a couple days off and (worked) a little bit harder leading up to this.”
Firestone Country Club demands it.