Jordan Spieth has offered a telling response when asked about Rory McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship, suggesting his own pursuit of a career Grand Slam differs significantly from the Northern Irishman's emotional journey.
Spieth on McIlroy's Masters Triumph
Spieth, who has won every major except the USPGA, acknowledged that McIlroy's reaction to finally winning the Masters in 2025 was unique. McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a dramatic playoff to secure his first green jacket after years of near misses, including seven top-10 finishes and a memorable collapse in 2011 when he surrendered a four-shot lead in the final round. He became only the fourth golfer to retain the Masters title in 2026.
However, Spieth insists he would not respond in the same way if he completes the Grand Slam at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. “My situation was certainly different than his at Augusta,” Spieth said. “I think that was unique to him. You probably didn't see that kind of reaction with the six guys that have ever done it. I don't have video proof of when they won, so you'd have to fact-check me big time on that one. But Rory's was obviously a very unique final round and his history of having led there and stuff like that, so I don't think it would feel similar.”
Spieth's Grand Slam Journey
Spieth was a dominant force on the PGA Tour between 2015 and 2017, winning the Masters, US Open, and The Open while rising to World No. 1. During that purple patch, he came within three shots of claiming the PGA Championship in 2015, finishing with a total of 17 under par, which would have won the previous eight editions. However, Jason Day's 20-under performance denied him. Since then, Spieth has only broken into the top five of the USPGA once, and it is this absence of near misses that he believes separates his Grand Slam chase from McIlroy's.
“For me, I went on a run of feeling like I was contending or having a good chance of contending at every major for a number of years. Then it was periodic and I feel like I'm close to being able to go back to doing that again. So I just want to give myself a chance,” Spieth added.
McIlroy's Preparation
McIlroy, 37, recently returned to competition after defending his Masters title in April. He made a scouting visit to Aronimink Golf Club for a one-day practice session. “We played the BMW Championship there in 2018, but the course played a lot differently. It was wet in 2018 and the greens didn't play as fast or as severe as what I felt like they played last week when I played. So it's not a long golf course, but the big defense is the greens and they can tuck the pins away if they want to. But yeah it was nice to get an early look at it. It just means that the week of the tournament you're not under pressure to play a lot of holes and historically the practice rounds at the PGA can be excruciatingly long, so it's probably going to just be nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday,” McIlroy said.
The PGA Championship is set to take place at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, with both Spieth and McIlroy among the favourites.
