LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jordan Spieth knows it’s real.
A win at this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla would mark the fourth and final leg to the career Grand Slam, a feat accomplished by only five players in the history of the sport.
“I understand,” Spieth said. “If you can hold all four, that’s kind of amazing. There aren’t a lot of people doing that in this game, but you have an opportunity to do something very unique in the game of golf.
“That’s what stands out and what stands the test of time after that. So, yeah, every time I come into these last few weeks, the thought is, we’re preparing for the four-a-year peak of this. ‘ is one of them.
Max Homa, who has been playing the best golf of his life in recent years and is expected to win this week, talks about the influence world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has had on him.
Homa said Schaeffler’s success is “not only motivating, but inspirational.” “Sometimes it’s pretty cool to see someone push the boundaries of what you thought was possible. I never thought I could hit a golf ball this well for this long.” [as he does]. I didn’t know that such a thing was possible.
“I saw it with Tiger.” [Woods], but I wasn’t there then, and Tiger feels like a mythical creature, especially when you look back at the few seasons he had, from 2000 to 2008 or 2009 or whatever it was. So it’s like absurd golf.
“So to see it up close [by Scheffler] I think knowing that it’s a real possibility is very motivating. I feel like it gives me an opportunity to work on something. You really have to push yourself more and achieve more of what you thought was almost unrealistic and start realizing that it is real. If you want to win a major or move up the world rankings, you have to do that. Do something special, special. ”
Ludwig Aberg, a 22-year-old rising star from Sweden who was a key player on the European Ryder Cup team in Italy, will play this week after missing last week’s game against Wells Fargo in Charlotte with a knee injury.
Although he is wearing a knee brace for this week’s tournament, he said the time off is merely precautionary.
“My knee is in good shape,” said Aberg, who played in last month’s Masters, the first major of his career. “I didn’t play last week due to safety concerns. I’ve consulted with my doctor and I trust everything in myself, so I’m not worried at all this week and I’m looking forward to playing.”
Andy Svoboda may be a familiar name to New Yorkers who watch the PGA Championship.
This is the West Chester native’s first PGA appearance, but he also made several appearances on the PGA Tour before becoming a teaching professional.
He caddied at Winged Foot at age 10 and played golf at St. John’s in college.
Svoboda is the head professional at Butler National Golf Club in suburban Chicago.
He has played in the U.S. Open five times and won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour.
