The Grand Slam Is Oh So Tantalizing Still Within Reach
/I'm not sure the ramifications are clear to many outside the golf world, but Monday's final round offers a chance to witness history on many levels. Based on a nice total of votes (thanks!), 39% of you like Spieth and 24% see Louis Oosthuizen as the most likely winner.
Joe Posnanski tries to comprehend what Jordan Spieth is doing under pressure and with confidence like we haven't seen in some time.
But you know what? He can do it. On the back nine Sunday, he played as if he had already won the tournament and was just acting it out for the public. To watch someone be that confident, that assured, that poised is inspiring. It’s at the heart of why I love professional golf.
Jason Day could win on Monday. He’s an amazing player who keeps getting close and one of these days he will break through. Louis Oosthuizen could win on Monday. He already won an Open at St. Andrews five years ago and he understands how to do it. Padraig Harrington could win on Monday. He’s a three-time major champion who seems to have found his game again.
Frankly, two dozen people could win the Open on Monday because the field is bunched up and the golf course is exposed and shootouts are unpredictable. But it sure seems to me that while a lot of players believe they can win the Open, Jordan Spieth believes he will. There’s a wide chasm between “can” and “will.” I believe, too.
Ian O'Connor talked to Jim "Bones" Mackay, who came out to watch Spieth after finishing his round with Phil Mickelson.
Lefty was out of the tournament, and yet Spieth was pulling Lefty's caddie right back into it. Mackay was waiting near the 17th green, the small of his back pressed against that ancient wall, because he wanted to see a 21-year-old chase history on the greatest par-4 in the world.
"I just think the kid is special," Mackay said. "I think he's gifted between the ears. When I say gifted, I mean like Jack Nicklaus-gifted. Jordan is going to do amazing things because he's such a killer between the ears."
