Spieth Fears That The Open ‘Could be a Wedge Contest’

2017 Open Champion, Jordan Spieth has voiced his concerns about the Old Course for next week’s major championship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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He said that if the wind didn’t blow, ‘It’s just a wedge contest, really’. Following Cameron Tringale’s sizzling 61 at the Renaissance today, (his lowest career round in 331 starts), the concerns are justified, as the Old Course could see some low numbers if the conditions are favorable to the world’s best golfers.

And yet, the Renaissance saw players struggling in the afternoon, as World #7 Patrick Cantlay came up short in two on the 483-yard par 4 18^th, something golfers at home can relate to. Current PGA champion Justin Thomas shot 73, and reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick carded 71.

Spieth has enough class to avoid coming off as brash, explaining that the Old Course wasn’t built for today’s technology, and it has already been lengthened significantly, adding approximately 400 yards to the total distance since 1995.

The comments are not quite on the level of Bryson’s declaration that Augusta was a ‘par 67’. I think Spieth needs some testing conditions to bring out the best in him, the wind and rain allow him to make pars from impossible places, to create shots that others don’t see. In this way, he is similar to players like Matt Fitzpatrick, who would revel in some testing conditions at the Home of Golf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The bomb-and-gouge style of golf course that is often seen in the States doesn’t suit the grandeur of the Open next week, and it would be strange to see a wave of players shooting in the low sixties on the hallowed turf. As always, I expect St Andrews grounds staff will have a few tricks up their sleeves to ensure that the competition provides a fair but difficult spectacle for the adoring crowds.

Cover Image Via The Guardian