If Jordan Spieth is feeling any nerves as he tries to complete the third leg of an incredible Grand Slam they were well-hidden at St Andrews yesterday.
The 21-year-old is golf’s hottest property after victories at the US Masters and Open at Chambers Bay last month.
Only Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had previously won the first two majors of the year in the modern era.
Only Hogan was able to complete the third leg at the Carnoustie Open in 1953 and Spieth is well aware of the scale of the achievement should he be able to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday.
He said: “I like to study the history of golf, and I think it’s extremely special what this year has brought. To have the chance to do what only one other person in the history of golf has done doesn’t come around very often.
“I’m embracing the opportunity, but by the time I start it won’t be in my head.
“It will be about how can I bring this Open championship down to just another event and try to get myself into contention. But I am certainly aware of it.”
Spieth is confident he will not be hindered by a lack of preparation time following his commitment to play in the John Deere Classic in Illinois – a tournament he won in a play-off on Sunday.
The American, who tees off at 9.33am today, said: “I don’t think there’s anything more special in golf than playing an Open championship at the Home of Golf.
“I have fond and vivid memories from playing here a few years back.
“Here and Augusta National are my two favourite places in the world and I’ve really enjoyed our time getting back here, even in a shortened week.
“I still got a lot of holes in and preparations are almost complete. I feel really good about the last week and the past couple of months heading into here.”
On his maiden Open appearance at Muirfield two years ago, Spieth was in contention at the halfway stage but slipped down the leaderboard to eventually finish tied 44th.
He feels better prepared for an assault on the Claret Jug this year after proving he can close out major wins.
He said: “Muirfield is still to this day one of my favourite courses and tournaments I have ever played.
“I got into contention on the Saturday and started to make a little move, but I remember thinking it was too big for me at the time.
“I wanted to compete, I loved the pressure and I felt I could do it, but it was a position I’d never been in before. It was an odd feeling being in contention for a major.
“Now that is where I expect myself to be. There’s certainly a difference in the way that I would feel having won a couple.”
Spieth has received a degree of criticism for using a golf simulator to help him get to grips with the lay-out of St Andrews’ Old Course but the two-time major winner stressed the part it played in preparation was minimal.
He said: “I have a full swing golf simulator at my house and I was playing with some buddies, I figured why not play the Old Course?
“It was cool to see some of the start lines but it’s still not the same as being here and preparing.
“I’m in no way saying that’s what I did to prepare. It was fun and it didn’t hurt because it’s so realistic, but I know everything can change because of the wind.
“The real preparation started when I came over here and I have done a lot of good work.
“I played 18 holes late into the evening on Monday and then I played a loop of 10 holes on Tuesday and another full round on Wednesday.
“That’s more golf than I usually play going into a tournament when I haven’t played the course before, but this one is a little more tricky, so I felt it was necessary.”
Spieth’s dominance of this year’s majors is reminiscent of the manner in which a young Tiger Woods burst on to the scene, but the 21-year-old Texan has been quick to play down the comparisons.
He added: “I think the parallels drawn between me and Tiger are unfair.
“I don’t think it is necessary. I don’t think players can be compared until at least midway through their careers.
“I’m extremely happy with where I’ve been, but at the same time, I certainly have an appreciation for how Tiger could continue to keep winning majors because it’s not easy.”