Sir Nick Faldo backs Jordan Spieth for The Open at St Andrews
Tuesday 14 July 2015 10:51, UK
Sir Nick Faldo believes Jordan Spieth can overcome his lack of experience at St Andrews and challenge for The 144th Open.
The American Spieth, aiming to complete the third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam, has only played a practice round at the course in 2011.
Spieth was criticised by former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley for choosing to play in the John Deere Classic in Illinois last week rather than the Scottish Open.
But Faldo, a six-time major champion and winner of the Claret Jug three times - including in 1990 at St Andrews - believes the world No 2's "very high golfing IQ" will see him overcome the challenge.
The 57-year-old said: "Jordan has got this great ability - many people play practice rounds with him and the next day he'll be talking about the golf course and they'll have missed everything he's talking about, all the little subtle slopes.
"He's obviously got a very high golfing IQ and he takes a lot on board.
“When you're playing really well, if your caddie tells you where to land it, he's going to probably land it there.”
He added: "It's amazing, when you're that young, one good night's sleep to get over jet-lag and he'll probably be fine (on Tuesday) morning, especially coming off a win."
Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods are the only players to have won three majors in the same season.
Hogan won the Masters and US Open in 1953 before a clash of dates meant he had to choose between the US PGA and the Open, opting to travel to Carnoustie and winning his sole Open title.
Woods won the US Open, the Open and US PGA in 2000 before completing the 'Tiger Slam' at the 2001 Masters.
Meanwhile, Faldo has hinted he could play at next year’s Open at Royal Troon having said this year’s major would be his last.
The 57-year-old joked: "Yeah, even the rust is rusty. I had a decent session a couple of weeks ago at the Greenbrier, practised every morning, but then I've got TV (commentary) in the afternoons.
"It's quite a shock to go and play, (on Sunday) we played in that left-to-right, 20mph wind. I've got to work very hard, as best I can, to feel good for Thursday."
