With Rory McIlroy finally smashing through the grand slam wall last month at Augusta, all eyes turn to Jordan Spieth's pursuit of the same achievement. The 31-year-old, who is at Quail Hollow this week, is just a PGA Championship shy of completing the task.
While Spieth's quest hasn't been nearly as followed - or scrutinized - as McIlroy's, the Texan admitted he gives the tournament a bit of extra attention every year.
"It's always circled on the calendar," Spieth said in his press conference Tuesday, according to ASAP Sports. "For me, if I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I'd pick this one for that reason. Obviously, watching Rory win after giving it a try for a number of years was inspiring."
Like McIlroy, Spieth is one of the most popular players in golf, but the recent PGA Championship setups simply don't favor his game. The extra emphasis on driving the ball long and straight plays away from his strengths, and he has just one finish inside the top 30 at the event in the last five years.
Even his best recent showing at the PGA Championship - a tie for third in 2019 - came even though his game was far from winning form. Spieth gained an absurd 10.6 strokes putting that week, three more than the next best player in the field.
"I had a chance in 2019, and I was not in form," he said. "I was in the final group on Saturday with Brooks (Koepka), and I was like, I know what it's like to have control of my game. I've played with Brooks with control of my game, and I see what he's doing right now, and I don't have mine. Let's see if I can fake it these next two days."
He eventually fell behind Koepka, who triumphed for his second of three career PGA Championships.
However, this version of Spieth is different, with an increase in both ball speed and driving distance changing his approach off the tee. Add the familiarity of Quail Hollow - an annual stop on the PGA TOUR - and the Spieth camp is hopeful about a potential chance at the grand slam.
"Because of my driver becoming a weapon more than it used to be, that leaves me in a position where I feel a little more comfortable on these courses," he admitted. "Having said that, you've got to go out and execute, but a familiar golf course is nice. I don't feel like I have to learn where all the pins are and where all the misses are and stuff.
"You can ask me the hole location on any green around this place right now, and I can tell you how I'm going to play the hole and where I'm going to try to hit it."
