Jordan Spieth Grand Slam: for and against

Will Jordan Spieth complete the Grand Slam in 2015? Nick Bonfield looks at the arguments for and against...

Jordan Spieth Grand Slam: for and against

Jordan Spieth heads into the Open Championship at St Andrews bidding to become the first golfer in the modern era to complete the Major Grand Slam in a single season.

Some, like Golf Monthly columnist Wayne Riley, believe the 21-year-old Texan has a legitimate chance, while others feel the odds are too stacked against him.

But following his brilliant performances on two rather contrasting layouts at The Masters and the US Open, and given his not inconsiderable talent, it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

Below, we take a look at the arguments for and against him winning both The Open Championship and the Grand Slam in 2015.

Against

•  It’s just too big an ask for anyone to do win the Grand Slam with the depth of the professional golfing talent pool nowadays
• Spieth hasn’t played much links golf and has only played the Old Course on one occasion. The last eight winners of The Open at St Andrews had all played the course in competition on a number of occasions
• He elected to play in the John Deere Classic instead of traveling early to St Andrews
• He’s played more Old Course holes on his simulator than in real life
• He’s yet to be really tested in inclement weather
• He’s already played 17 events this year, so mental fatigue could be a factor
• No one has ever won the modern Grand Slam (Masters, US Open, The Open, USPGA). Bobby Jones is the only man ever to have won all four majors in the same season (1930)

 For

•  He’s already won two Majors this season at the age of 21 – something Woods, Nicklaus and McIlroy weren’t able to achieve
• No one in the word game comes into the event in better form
• He’s arguably the best putter in the world, particularly under pressure
• He brings his best golf to the big occasion, and there’s no bigger event than The Open at St Andrews
• There’s no discernible weakness in his game
• He embraces pressure, rather than being scared by it
• His self-belief is through the roof
• Jet lag shouldn’t be a factor. He won the Hero World Challenge after travelling all the way from Australia following his victory at the Australian Open
• His mental strength and precociousness are hugely impressive, so he’ll be adept at dealing with the inevitable bad breaks that come with playing links golf
• His ability to block out back holes and focus exclusively on the next shot is second to none
• Rory McIlroy, the pre-tournament favourite, is out of The Open and possibly the USPGA, too
• He has more positive recent memories to draw on than anyone in the field