Now Spieth has a chance to capture the career Grand Slam, something only five men — Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods — have done before. When a 24-year-old Woods won the last leg of his Slam, the 2000 Open Championship at St. Andrews, he became the youngest player to do so. Spieth’s win would actually come even earlier, having turned 24 just last week, but it still doesn’t settle the question of which feat would be more impressive. On one hand, Spieth would be earlier in his career, and in the age of excessive social media attention and arguably more competition at the top of the sport, he’s faced pressures Woods didn’t contend with at the turn of the millenium. On the other hand, Woods won the two Opens in 2000 by a combined 23(!) strokes, so you know, that’s pretty good, too.

Regardless, all of this is great fodder for discussion in the latest Golf Digest Podcast, in which colleagues Ryan Herrington, Alex Myers and Joel Beall joined me to talk about Spieth’s chances of getting it done this week. We also discussed the recent travails of Rory McIlroy, two times a winner at Quail Hollow but coming off a surprising caddie switch; and even whether the PGA would be better off by a proposed move to May.

https://soundcloud.com/user-96678684/episode-99-pga-preview-can-jordan-spieth-the-career-grand-slam-and-more

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“When you have kids, your life changes and it’s like you can’t believe what you did with all the time you had before you had children,” the Swede said on the eve of the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, a week out from his Open title defence at Royal Birkdale.

“I don’t know what I did with my time before I had the Claret Jug in my possession. And I kind of treat it like my baby, as well. So it’s a lot of similarities in that sense.”

Stenson certainly isn’t grumbling about all that’s followed his epic duel with Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon 12 months ago. Indeed, it will be tough handing back the Claret Jug, or the Golf Champion Trophy to use its proper name, when he rolls into Southport on Monday.

That said, the former Dubai-resident is looking forward to, well, looking ahead and trying to give the “baby” he doesn’t have to give back – a smaller, replica Claret Jug – a sibling for his major mantlepiece soon.

“For the year that you are the defending champion, then every week you show up at a tournament, it’s new, it’s fresh, they haven’t seen you since you won, and it’s all the pictures and all the autographs and all the interviews.

“It’s been a challenge at times. I’ve been pretty good at saying no, but you’ve still got to do a lot of things, and I’m sure that impacts your focus on your game to a degree.

“In this game, you’ve got to be in the moment and you’ve got to be focused and where you’re at now and looking forward. And you’re constantly talking about what happened six months, nine months, 12 months ago; so it’s easy to be a little stuck in the past.

“I think it’s going to be a bit of turning the page next week when I have to return The Claret on Monday, and then we’re kind of looking ahead instead of looking back.”

The future begins with a return to Ayrshire this week where Stenson goes in search of some much-needed momentum at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

“I haven’t played my best golf this year,” admitted the 41-year-old who started well with T8 and runner-up finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively before missing five cuts in a stretch of six US starts including unwanted weekend’s off at both the Masters and U.S. Open.

“But at the same time, I don’t feel like it’s miles away. So we’re just trying to tidy up the loose ends a little bit and get going in the right direction. This week could be a very good week to do that. I think I finished about 13th or 14th last year [tied 13] at The Scottish Open [and] it wasn’t like I had to be in contention to get out what I want to get out of this week, even though it’s very nice to be up there and have a chance to win nice tournaments like this one.

“Playing links, getting a good bit of work done on the range and practise grounds, and just get that little bit of sharpness that we need to do really well.”

Stenson has returned to his bag the 2-iron he used 12 months ago for the Scottish-Open Championship fortnight.

“I want to play well. I think coming into Troon last year, I had not been in contention for the previous five or six major championships that I played, and that was kind of my key thought. If I’m going to win a major or more than one, I need to give myself chances,” said Stenson who ended 2016 ranked 4th in the world, edged up 3rd following his near thing to Sergio Garcia at the Dubai Desert Classic in early February but has since slipped to 7th.

“Again, I will try and come in with decent play and just keep working away for 3 1/2 days, and hopefully when you hit the back nine on Sunday, you’re there or thereabouts. The more chances you give yourself, the more chances you have to win.”

Stenson isn’t the only one desperate for some momentum. He’s off with Ryder Cup mate Rory McIlroy at 8.30am (11.30am UAE time) in the opening round Thursday, alongside 2015 Scottish Open champion but still major-less Rickie Fowler.

McIlroy is looking to overcome his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open disappointment

After withdrawing from the Masters with a rib/back injury and missing the cut at the U.S. Open, McIlroy arrives at Dundonald Links fresh from sitting out last weekend at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by his own Rory Foundation. The 29-year-old Northern Irishman needs something to take into Royal Birkdale as he looks to snap a winless major championship streak stretching back to the 2014 PGA Championship.

“I think playing links golf is the best way to prepare going into The Open Championship, but look, the last two weeks are huge events in their own right now, part of the Rolex Series and big ranking points, big prize money,” said McIlroy who revealed he’s been working on knockdown wedge shots in the wake of the MC disappointment at Portstewart GC in Northern Ireland.

“I feel I’ve got ground to make up this year because of not playing as much as I would have wanted, and when I have played, not getting the results that I’ve wanted to. So it’s a big week. I want to play well. I want to have a chance to win and I feel like if I get myself in contention, that’s a great confidence boost for me going into Birkdale, as well.”

McIlroy admitted it was “proving difficult” trying to stay positive because “I feel like I am good enough to win these tournaments”. But he insists he’s “close”.

“It’s hard to sit up here and stand in front of a camera every single time and say to you guys it’s close, because I sound a bit like a broken record after a few weeks. But really, it’s not far away,” the world No.4 said.

“I’m positive about it. I’m excited about my game. I feel like I’m doing a lot of good things. And again, it’s just putting it all together, not just for one day but for four days; and not just for four days, to do it week-in and week-out.”

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The debate over what to call the British Open/The Open Championship/The Open wages on as we approach the 146th playing of the, um, let’s just call it the tournament where they give out the Claret Jug to the winner. And on Tuesday, we learned that even Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller, two of golf’s all-time great players and most recognisable voices, can’t keep the name of golf’s oldest event straight.

During an NBC/Golf Channel teleconference, a reporter asked Miller if he ever gets tripped up by calling the tournament “The Open Championship.” That’s when Faldo quickly jumped in.

“The Open Championship is incorrect. It’s now The Open,” Faldo said, correctly pointing out the tournament’s recent re-brand as simply The Open. “You see? It’s gone from the British Open, The Open Championship, now it’s The Open.”

Then Miller responded, admitting he’s still confused by it all, but that it was always known as the British Open during his playing days and that’s what he still calls it. At least, when he’s not on the air.

“I have trouble with it,” Miller said. “I screwed up one time last year, if you call it a screw-up, which is pretty good in four days.”

Just one non-screw-up screw-up in four days? That is pretty good, Johnny. And likely part of the reason why NBC just signed you to another extension. No pressure, though, but we’ll be keeping track of how many times you say “British Open” next week at Royal Birkdale.

And then Faldo added a funny closing thought on the matter.

“In another five years it will be just called ‘The.'”

Well played, Sir Nick.

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Ian Poulter earned a return to the scene of his most memorable major performance as the final 15 spots for the 146^th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale were filled Tuesday.

The European Ryder Cup legend clinched one of three spots in final qualifying at his home club of Woburn after carding rounds of 70-68. It sets up a return to Royal Birkdale where he finished second to Padraig Harrington in 2008.

“Job done,” the 12-time European Tour winner told TheOpen.com. “Obviously going back to Birkdale after what happened in 2008 is special. You know I thought I had that 15-foot putt (on the 72nd) to maybe win or get in a play-off and then my Irish friend (Padraig Harrington) decided to go bananas on the last five holes.

Job done today @WoburnGC securing a spot in @TheOpen. Woburn was magnificent as always. @JackSinghBrar is going to be a star. Well played. pic.twitter.com/UdhKA8Qmnn

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) July 4, 2017

“It was a great week, my best in a major. All my family and friends were there to see me play and after I finished Katie told me she was pregnant with Lily, so it was happy days that week.”

Poulter now has the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open starting at Portstewart GC Thursday and next week’s Scottish Open at Dundonald to prepare for the year’s third big.

“I would say Birkdale is my favourite Open venue because of 2008 and I’m looking forward to competing there. It’s going to be a busy run. It will be my fourth tournament in a row but it’s about managing my energy levels. But as soon as I get there I will be pumped for the week.”

India’s Shiv Kapur, who made a special 4167-mile round trip from his home in Delhi to play, took the top spot at Woburn with scores of 71 and 65 for an -8, 136 total. England’s Toby Tree earned a start in the biggest championship of his career by tying Poulter for second on six-under-par.

Congrats to @shivkapur62 & @TobiasTree, who join @IanJamesPoulter in qualifying from Woburn for #TheOpen ? pic.twitter.com/Ht7GTGVZkb

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 4, 2017

Sweden’s Jens Dantorp left Woburn frustrated after receiving a two-shot penalty for having 15 clubs in his bag on his opening hole of the day before going on to finish one shot outside the qualifiers, TheOpen.com reported.

Elsewhere, Matthew Southgate won his final qualifying event for the third time in four years and clinched back-to-back wins at Royal Cinque Ports at Deal.

The Englishman won at Sunningdale in 20145 before going on to miss the cut at Royal Liverpool. He failed to qualify for St Andrews the following year and instead spent the week of The Open in recovery from a testicular cancer operation.

Royal Cinque Ports confirmed qualifiers – @SouthgateMatt, @RobDin29 & @AustinConnelly9 – congratulations guys. See you at Royal Birkdale ? pic.twitter.com/PA0qmCk7kD

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 4, 2017

Southgate made an emotional return to The Open with a T12 finish at Royal Troon last year, just missing out on an automatic trip to Royal Birkdale.

Visit TheOpen.com for the full list of qualifying results from Gailes Links, Hillside, Notts Hollinwell, Royal Cinque Ports and Woburn.

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