|
Golf's British Open is this week.
Typically when one prepares to play in the British Open the standard strategy is to go over to the United Kingdom the week before and play in the Scottish Open. The courses there are a bit different in nature than the courses in America. This gives the players a feel for them. Too, it allows the players time to acclimate themselves to the six or so hour time difference.
To not do so is generally considered British Open suicide.
The British Open is a big deal after all. It is one of golf's "major" tournaments that make up the "Grand Slam," along with the Masters, the US Open and the PGA Championship.
As the Grand Slam is now constituted no one has ever done it; that is no one has ever won all four major tournaments in the same calendar year. Hogan didn't do it. Palmer didn't do it. Nicklaus didn't do it.
The closest was Tiger Woods, who won all four tournaments consecutively, but not in the same calendar year. He won the British Open, US Open and the PGA in 2000, and the Masters in 2001.
This year 21 year-old Jordan Spieth, even at his ripe young age, has won both the Masters and US Open. Thus he has a chance, albeit a tough one, to be the first to ever achieve the Grand Slam of golf in the same calendar year.
To that end all logic would dictate that he would have been across the pond last week playing in the Scottish Open and preparing for the British.
Not so. Jordan Spieth had a different priority.
When Spieth was 18 years old he was casting about for professional tournaments to play in to gain experience and test his mettle against the best. Since he was not a professional yet, tournaments would have to give him a special exemption that would allow him to play.
In the Quad Cities (towns that surround a portion of the Mississippi River, two towns in Illinois, two in Iowa) there is a relatively nondescript tournament called the John Deere Classic.
Its placement the week before the British Open means that virtually no one who plays in the British Open plays in the John Deere Classic because they are in the United Kingdom boning up. So the John Deere Classic draws lesser caliber and lesser known players because anyone who's anyone plays in the British.
But when Spieth was 18 the John Deere Classic made room for him. They offered him an exemption that allowed him to play. And before he ever won a major this year he had committed to play in the Quad Cities.
So he's keeping his commitment. Simple as that.
Other players said he was crazy. Golf experts also questioned his sanity especially with the history he has a chance to make. The folks at John Deere even said they wouldn't blame Spieth for breaking his commitment if he felt the need to go to Scotland.
But Spieth says that a few years ago when he needed them John Deere made room for him. He would now make room for them and honor his commitment.
Spieth is holding to his word despite the fact that it might put him at a competitive disadvantage at the British Open when he has a chance to make history.
Ah...commitment when it hurts is real commitment.
Seems Jordan Spieth, all 21 years of him, is the real stuff.
| 
