TROON, Scotland — When he looked at the schedule before the year, Jordan Spieth was like a lot of players: concerned about the rush of major championships, three of them in seven summer weeks.
But after closing with his best round of the 145th British Open, a 3-under 68 Sunday, Spieth had a bit of spring in his step and said to bring on the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club (July 28-31).
“I think that’s good for us. I think that we feel that we’re ready for it to start next week, if need be,” said Spieth, who will turn 23 the day before the season’s final major begins. “We’ve just got to fine-tune a couple things when we get back home, that’s it.”
Spieth will arrive home in Dallas on a positive ride of emotions, his stay at Royal Troon having ended with more positives than he produced during the first three days.
As fate would have it, Spieth had an early/late draw, and most of those players were adversely affected by weather. But with a 68, Spieth finished at 2-over 286, Though he didn’t get anywhere near the leaders, he left the west coast of Scotland with a smile on his face.
“I’m very pleased with the way we finished in the half of the field that we had Thursday, Friday. We’re trying to look at positives. That’s one way to do so,” Spieth said.
“I don’t think we’re far off from being able to tee off on Sunday afternoon at a major.”
That opportunity will come in less than two weeks, but if Spieth is looking forward to Baltusrol, what of Rickie Fowler? Wasn’t it just last August when Fowler and his caddie, Joey Skovron, defeated Spieth and his caddie, Michael Greller, in a hard-fought battle at Baltusrol?
“I played pretty good there, first time around,” said Fowler, moments after he shot 73 — 290 in the final round at Troon. “If I have four of those rounds, then no one will touch me.”
-
- Henrik Stenson poses with the Claret Jug on the 18th green following his victory during the final round of the British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson with wife Emma after holing a putt for victory during the final round of the British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson captured his first major championship with a win at Royal Troon in the 2016 British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson is congratulated on his victory by Phil Mickelson (left) on the 18th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson unleashed everything in his toolbox Sunday, and it still wasn’t enough to overtake Henrik Stenson.
-
- Henrik Stenson tees off on the 10th hole during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Henrik Stenson reacts on the 5th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson tees off on the 5th hole during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson lines up on the 9th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Andrew Johnston is 13 under through 36 holes at the Albertsons Boise Open.
-
- TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden acknowledges the crowd as he walks on the 8th during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
-
- Golfweek experts say J.B. Holmes should be a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup team.
-
- Phil Mickelson reacts on the 2nd green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
He had a big smile on his face. Details of that fun match after both players had missed the cut at The Barclays were never totally revealed, only that Fowler shot very, very low and his side won. But Spieth got positives from Baltusrol that day, too.
“If (my caddie, Greller) can play well, I can play well there,” said Spieth.
He had a big smile on his face. Details of that fun match after both players had missed the cut at The Barclays were never totally revealed, only that Fowler shot very, very low and his side won. But Spieth got positives from Baltusrol that day, too.
“If (my caddie, Greller) can play well,” Spieth said, “I can play well there.”
-
- Henrik Stenson poses with the Claret Jug on the 18th green following his victory during the final round of the British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson with wife Emma after holing a putt for victory during the final round of the British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson captured his first major championship with a win at Royal Troon in the 2016 British Open.
-
- Henrik Stenson is congratulated on his victory by Phil Mickelson (left) on the 18th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson unleashed everything in his toolbox Sunday, and it still wasn’t enough to overtake Henrik Stenson.
-
- Henrik Stenson tees off on the 10th hole during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Henrik Stenson reacts on the 5th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson tees off on the 5th hole during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Phil Mickelson lines up on the 9th green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
-
- Andrew Johnston is 13 under through 36 holes at the Albertsons Boise Open.
-
- TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden acknowledges the crowd as he walks on the 8th during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
-
- Golfweek experts say J.B. Holmes should be a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup team.
-
- Phil Mickelson reacts on the 2nd green during the final round of the British Open. (Getty Images)
