Spieth conquers Chamber of horrors
Every now and again someone makes a pithy remark that tends to stick either by being fundamentally wrong – as in the case of Alan Hansen’s “You’ll never win anything with kids” jibe about a young Manchester United outfit, or rather apposite – as in Henrik Stenson’s “like putting on broccoli” summation of the greens at Chambers Bay, venue for the 2015 US Open golf championship. It will take some time for the course, built on land that not so long ago was the site of timber and gravel mining operations, to rid itself of that one.
Henrik’s comment followed a less than stellar second round 74 which saw him fall out of contention for what is generally acknowledged as the golf major which presents the sternest of mental examinations. Those of a short fuse tend to struggle. Choosing Chambers Bay was certainly a gamble on the part of the USGA. Not much more than eight years old it’s distinctively linksland design is something of a departure from traditional US Open venues where penal rough a few feet off the fairways is the usual means of generating a rise in blood pressure. Here the tools of torture were rock hard undulating greens with expansive run offs such that shots that at one point were within feet of the pin could in the blink of an eye find themselves running off sometimes over 80 yards away. Watching JB Holmes come to grief at the start of his final round was a case in point – fairway splitting drive of 380 yards followed by a 120 yard wedge onto a raised green. Though well struck his approach came up marginally short and, like a thief fleeing the scene of a crime, his ball ran off accelerating to a point some eighty yards from the flag. Indeed as it trundled down the slope one wondered whether it would ever come to rest but when it finally did JB had another go and promptly came up short again. The ball simply returned to where he stood and with that did his chances of winning the tournament sink.
There may have been criticism of the course but links golf in the UK, whilst not quite so penal, offers similar challenges. Deep bunkers, unfair bounces wispy and occasionally penal rough. Tom Watson hated links golf until he realised that he had to embrace the challenge rather than moan about its inherent unfairness. Only when he got off his “pity pot” did he prosper which is probably the best advice anyone can give if one wants to succeed at the highest level.
Jordan Spieth has that mindset which is why for the second time this year, he is a Major champion. That and the small matter of a masterful grasp of the art of putting. Of all those who played at Chambers Bay he conquered the broccoli better than any, bearing out the old adage “Drive for show, putt for dough”. What would Rory, who tee to green was again imperious, give for his putting touch.
Spare a thought too for Dustin Johnson. DJ, as Butch Harmon now chummily refers to him, doesn’t appear to be the brightest tool in the box. But he can hit a decent golf ball and he defied my own prediction that he would fall out of contention long before the final hole was played. Though by the time that point was reached I had long since gone to bed, I gather that he had an eighteen foot eagle putt to claim the title outright, two to get him into a play off. Three putts later he had handed victory to Spieth. It is a sop to claim “One day he will win a major”. Think Colin Montgomery in his pomp or Sergio Garcia. But unlike Garcia at least Johnson puts himself in contention which is all he can do. One day the stars may align and victory in a major may come his way. On this performance, at least, he certainly deserves one.
As for the game in general there’s a certain symmetry to the rise of Jordan Spieth as Tiger Woods departs stage left. In terms of character and mode of play they could not be more different. But there is no doubt that Spieth has both the heart and game to match that of Woods and with Rory back to his ball striking best, what odds the two of them going toe to toe at St Andrews in a month’s time.
Golf is being re-born.
©Mark Brennand