George Willis

George Willis

Sports

Upstart Spieth: ‘I can win this golf tournament’

PINEHURST, NC — Jordan Spieth was 5 when Payne Stewart beat Phil Mickelson on the final hole to capture the 1999 US Open at Pinehurst. That’s when the dream of winning a major championship began.

“I just always loved watching major championships,” Spieth, now 20, said this week. ‘I’ve been waiting for this.”

The search for the next big thing in golf is on with Tiger Woods out of action because of a bad back and Phil Mickelson turning 44 on Monday. Two-time major winner Rory McIlroy, 25, is doing his part as is two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, 35. But Spieth also appears to be a prime candidate after contending at the Masters, where he tied for second, and the Players Championship, where he tied for fourth.

In those tournaments the goal was to play under the pressure of being in the mix to win a prestigious tournament. Now the goal is to win, something he thinks he can do at Pinehurst.

“I believe that I can win this golf tournament,” Spieth said. “I feel comfortable on this golf course. I think it fits my game. I feel like I will be able to close this one out, if I get an opportunity.”

This will be Spieth’s third US Open. His first was at the Olympic Club in 2012, when he was an 18-year-old amateur. He got a call that he made the field as an alternate, arrived late Tuesday and went out for his practice round Wednesday morning. He wound up playing behind a group that included McIlroy, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

“Must have been 30,000 people [following] that practice-round group,” Spieth said. “I’d played in front of some good crowds, but that was something I just wasn’t expecting on a practice round. It was just an incredible atmosphere.”

Spieth barely made the cut at Olympic, shooting a pair of 74s. But he improved on the weekend with a 69-70 to finish tied for 21st as the low amateur. He wasn’t as successful playing as a pro last year at Merion, shooting 77-76 to miss the cut. Yet he comes to Pinehurst mature beyond his years, having won the 2013 John Deere Classic and posting six top-10 finishes this year.

“Seeing the talent and the shot making that Jordan has is exciting,” said Phil Mickelson, who played a practice round with Spieth on Thursday. “His strength is his ability to create shots. He has every shot you could want to hit.”

Spieth is mobbed by fans looking for his autograph after his practice round on Wednesday.AP

Spieth said contending in the Masters, where he had a two-stroke lead after seven holes of the final round, and the Players, where he stumbled to a 74 on Sunday, were learning experiences he hopes will benefit him at Pinehurst. The key, he said, will be to stay patient.

“Out here it’s going to be even more difficult to stay patient, which has been the biggest thing that’s led me to be successful,” he said. “But this is the hardest tournament in the world to be patient in.”

Spieth isn’t the only 20-something golfer creating a buzz. Hideki Matsuyama, 22, of Japan won a playoff to capture the Memorial two weeks ago. He also made consecutive cuts at the 2011 and 2012 Masters as an amateur. He played in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, finishing tied for 10th after posting a 3-under par 67 on Sunday.

Matsuyama and Spieth were paired for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Merion and are again paired for Thursday’s opening round along with Rickie Fowler, who seems ancient at 25.

“I’m looking forward to playing with him,” Spieth said of Matsuyama. “I don’t think it’s necessarily a rivalry or anything. We both respect each other. I enjoy playing golf with him.”

Spieth winning the U.S. Open would give golf the kind of boost it needs with Woods’ absence and Mickelson’s struggles. Golf needs to find its next big thing.