Jordan Spieth sets sights on career grand slam at US PGA Championship
- Planet Sport writer
- 14 May 2022
Jordan Spieth enters the US PGA Championship knowing that victory would put him alongside Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in golf’s most exclusive club.
Spieth won his third career major in 2017 as he powered to victory at the Open Championship in Southport.
The 28-year-old needs a PGA Championship triumph in order to complete the grand slam, and this year could be his best opportunity yet of claiming the Wanamaker trophy.
Spieth's best result at the tournament was a second-place finish back in 2015 - the same year in which he claimed Masters and US Open honours.
The 2015 PGA Player of the Year was one shot away from taking Jason Day to a play-off at St Andrews.
After missing the cut at the recent Masters for the first time in his career, Spieth bounced back in style as he won the RBC Heritage just a week later.
The American beat Patrick Cantlay in a play-off despite finishing at a disappointing 60th in the putting stats.
"I won without a putter," said Spieth - an encouraging claim considering he won his three majors by putting better than everyone else.
When it comes to winning at Southern Hills, Spieth will need all departments of his game to be on top form.
The course is a testing par-70 which measured 7,556 yards and features two par fives stretching to 656 and 632 yards.
Since Woods won his 13th major title at Southern Hills in 2007, the course has been renovated after a heatwave prompted Colin Montgomerie to joke "at least it's in the shade" when hooking a drive into the trees.
Woods has not competed since the Masters but did take part in a recent scouting trip to the venue. The golfing legend also employed the club's director of golf, Cary Cozby, as his caddie.
"I know guys can hit it past him now, but watching him work was amazing," Cozby told Golf Oklahoma. "He's so meticulous, detailed and immersed in what he's doing.
"I think he can contend. He's like Michael Jordan late in his career, playing defense and hitting jump shots. Whoever wins here is going to have to be a great chipper and he is still that."
