Anand Datla

Jordan Spieth’s brilliance at The Open calls for celebration

Jordan Spieth was millimetres short of keeping his grand slam dreams alive

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Jordan Spieth was ever so close to taking a third major this season

 

 

Column by Anand Datla

 

July 21, 2015: As Jordan Spieth lined up his putter for a sling shot at the play off, you could not help but admire the poise and unbridled ambition of the young man standing behind the precious ball. At 21, he was chasing a grand slam and the kind of glory that has been denied to the greatest names in the game of golf. Over a painstaking stretch of three holes toward the end, the pins teased and tested the young golfer, only to deny him a shot at it by the merest of margins.

 

But at the end of it all, Spieth can hold his head high. After all, he was just millimeters off the cup and a place in the playoffs. The grand slam will continue to remain the hallowed dream, beyond the realm of ordinary mortals. Just as well, but the sands of time will also mark the fact that Spieth came ever so close to keeping the dream real to the very end of The Open Championships.

 

As it is, that was a massive accomplishment for a man as wet behind the ears as Spieth is. Just try and recollect what each of us was doing at 21 on a moist Monday. It will help provide some perspective on the massive effort it may have taken Spieth to live on the edge of glory.

 

It wasn’t easy by any stretch of imagination. He needed four putts at the 8th hole – with so much at stake, that must have been a debilitating blow to his mind. Spieth though was in no mood to relent – responding with back to back birdies to put himself back on the rails again. It was a sign of sheer determination and immense self belief.

 

The American rekindled memories of Ben Hogan – the last man to win the first three majors in a season – when he curled a magical putt left to right before dissolving the ball into the 16th pin. It seemed for a moment that the mythical Old Course was bowing to the unshakable faith of Spieth.

 

Just as thousands of eager spectators craned their necks, stretching into a land of fantasy, the cruel Road Hole put a spoke in the wheel. Spieth missed a par putt from just eight feet out, missing the cup by a few strands of hair. “If I stood on 17th tee box and you told me I had that putt for par on the hole,” admitted Spieth, “I would have certainly taken it.”

 

As he walked up the fairway on the 18th hole, Spieth was 90 yards from the flag, still with two shots to go 15 under and earn the right to join the playoff. The second shot was skewed right, ending just short of the green.

 

The valley of sin was far from an ideal place to keep Spieth’s hunt for the holy grail alive and his brave effort from there was inches away from the cup, ending his storied run this season.

 

Spieth could still go on and win the PGA Championship at the Whistling Straits to complete his collection of three slams this season. There hasn’t been a better golfer this year, but clearly that wasn’t enough to stretch his arm and reach out for that elusive grand slam.

 

The holy grail remains out of reach. It remains the highest and only unconquered peak in golf.

 

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