Jordan Spieth was no longer on the course at Chambers Bay last month when Dustin Johnson — with the 2015 U.S. Open in his grasp — three-putted the 18th to give Spieth the victory. Johnson made all the Spieth record-chasing possible this week by missing those putts. Otherwise it’d be one major each for Johnson and Spieth entering the British Open. (Instead it’s Speith’s chance to be the first guy to win the first three majors of the year since Ben Hogan in 1953.)
At St. Andrew’s Johnson looks like he wants to create the same opportunity for himself in this major — two putts to win; he’ll take it. Johnson averaged 323 yards per drive on day one, turning the Old Course into a pitch-and-putt on some holes. “If D.J. keeps driving it the way he is, then I’m going to have to play my best golf to have a chance,” Spieth said. He should know. They were in the same pairing this time, a situation that might last past the cut. Spieth, at -5, is just two off Johnson’s solo lead.
