Jordan Spieth hopes his bid to become the first Golfer to retain The Open title in a decade will not be determined by Carnoustie’s fickle weather that can crush hopes in a single afternoon.
The 24-year-old American – who if successful would emulate Irishman Padraig Harrington’s back to back wins in 2007/08 – told a press conference that whilst he loved links Golf the downside was the weather could adversely affect one half of the field. “Hopefully we get a pretty even draw (with the weather),” said Spieth.
“That’s the one thing the Open can bring, you can eliminate half the field with one afternoon of bad weather which is disappointing if you are on the wrong side.”
Spieth, who has not won a tournament since lifting the Claret Jug last year, admitted he had yet to get out on the course which last hosted The Open in 2007 but said he had been told days of sun could be a real benefit for long hitters. “I haven’t played one hole yet,” Spieth said.
“I talked to a couple of my friends and they said it’s extremely baked out. Michael (Greller, his caddy) said you might wear out your four or five irons off the tee, a couple of longer hitters might take driver more because I don’t think the rough is that bad.”
Spieth, who came from way off the pace to take third at The Masters this year, said the challenge of links Golf attracted him.
“Absolutely. I love links Golf, I very much enjoy coming over here,” said Spieth.
“The firmest might have been the Open at Muirfield [in 2013], the weather was perfect that week and it baked out but there wasn’t much wind,” added the three-time major winner, who is only missing the PGA Championship to complete his collection.
Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood brought Carnoustie to its knees with a nine-under 63 at the Dunhill Links Championship in autumnal October but he said the memories of his course-record will count for little at this week’s British Open.
Conditions could not be more contrasting nine months on and a summer of permanent sunshine has left the straw-coloured fairways rock hard, making it tough for the players to control the ball on the undulating links layout on the east coast of Scotland.
“It is a completely different course,” Fleetwood told reporters on Monday. “I’ve never played it this firm or fast, shots that you’ve hit (before) have literally no relevance for a lot of it.
“It doesn’t do any harm to have a course record but it’s a completely different challenge to what we normally face.”
Howling winds and driving rain turned Carnoustie into ‘Car Nasty’ at the 1999 British Open, leaving Tiger Woods to describe the venue as the hardest he had ever played. Fleetwood, though, believes the layout is running so fast this time round that it almost does not matter what club a player chooses to use.
“There are so many holes where you’re going to be taking fairway bunkers on,” said the world number 10. “The 260 (yard mark) is a completely irrelevant number because any amount of clubs can go that far just with it playing that firm.
“There are certain holes where your game plan might be to hit driver off the tee simply because you’re not going to be able to hit a club that is going to take trouble out of play.”
Fleetwood is one of the favourites to win the coveted Claret Jug after going close to snatching his first major victory at last month’s US Open.
The 27-year-old Englishman produced a swashbuckling 62 in the final round at Shinnecock Hills that left him one stroke behind the winner, American Brooks Koepka. “Straight after the US Open, literally, you want the British Open to be straight away because you’re on such a high,” said Fleetwood.
“The good thing about having results like the US Open is that it is proof to yourself... that you have the game to compete and hopefully win majors. That’s what it’s all about.”