Spieth can accomplish something Sunday that Jack, Tiger never did
Though it feels like he's been around for a decade, Jordan Spieth is still only 23 years old.
That means the 54-hole leader of the Open Championship, who turns 24 this Thursday, has a chance to accomplish something Sunday that nobody, not even Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus, has ever done in golf.
With a win tomorrow, Jordan Spieth would become 1st player in golf history with 10 PGA Tour wins including 3 majors before age 24.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) July 22, 2017
A win at Royal Birkdale would give Spieth his third major championship, adding to the 2015 Masters and 2015 U.S. Open that he previously claimed. That would leave just the PGA Championship to finish the career grand slam, giving him another opportunity to surpass the all-time legends.
Woods captured the career grand slam five months before his 25th birthday, while Nicklaus was 26 when he won the final leg of the major championships.
Spieth has proven indestructible through 54 holes this week, and holds a three-shot advantage heading into Sunday. The Texan has been masterful at turning 54-hole leads into wins, converting eight of his last nine chances.
Of course, critics and opponents will point to his one missed chance as a reason for optimism Sunday. Few can forget his collapse on the back nine on Sunday of the 2016 Masters, with two balls in the water on the 12th hole contributing to a blown five-shot lead.
The same sort of trouble doesn't appear likely to rear its ugly head for Spieth on Sunday, and it seems the chase at history is the only one worth watching over the final 18 holes at Birkdale.