JORDAN SPIETH SAYS the success of Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy is a “driving factor” as he looks to match their haul of major wins at this week’s U.S. Open.
The picturesque Pebble Beach Golf Links will play host to the year’s third major, with two-time defending champion Koepka set to start as favourite after he won last month’s US PGA Championship to claim his fourth major title inside two years.
McIlroy, who stormed to victory at the Canadian Open on Sunday courtesy of a final-round 61, also has four of golf’s biggest stroke play prizes to his name while Spieth has three, having followed up Masters and U.S. Open triumphs in 2015 with a victory in the 2017 Open Championship.
Speaking ahead of this week’s tournament, Spieth told reporters: “To be honest, when I look at what I’m doing, it’s hard to compare that to a different generation.
“And say like Tiger [Woods, a 15-time major champion], I don’t compare myself to him. But it’s a little easier to compare yourself to people within five or six years on either side of yourself.
Because it’s almost unrealistic to compare yourself to Jack [Nicklaus, who has 18 majors] or Tiger. Obviously that’s the end goal. But it’s very difficult to look at the short term with just how incredible their achievements have been.
“So watching Brooks and Rory, these guys who have four major championships prior to being 30 years old and looking like they’re just going to continue to do so, it’s certainly a driving factor for me.
“There’s also a number of under-30 guys who are going to win a number of majors over the coming years, [that] is certainly what it looks like.
So there’s plenty of inspiration to be the one that’s trying to win these championships. And I have no trouble, personally, finding that inspiration, nor would I even if the 30 to 40 year olds are winning. This is our Super Bowl.
“At the beginning of the year this is what we look at and we pinpoint and we try and peak at. “[There is] no need for any extra inspiration. I think there’s plenty there.”
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It only seems like yesterday what a night to be remembered Stevo Stevo Stevo they were great days
They should replay this on Sky Sports or RTE please. This is the sort of iconic sports history they should be using to fill the void.
Well Eubank’s wasn’t the only camp spooked by Tony Quinn’s witchcraft! The Limerick hurlers certainly were in the buildup to the 1995 Munster Final, when Loughnane’s Clare team also utilised Quinn’s services. Clare hurled like demons possessed.
@Colm O’Sullivan: Are you actually trying to liken a provincial hurling match to a world championship fight…..?
@Con Al: Ridiclous,a munster final is no place for the likes of those boxers,way too dangerous.
@Con Al: No I’m not.
@Colm O’Sullivan: Clare hurling supporters are worse than England football supporters for living in the past…..1995 was their 1966. Sad.
@Sharp Elsi Mate: not sure where you’re going with that one mate, Clare repeated All Ireland wins in ’97 and 2013!!! Just saying.
@Sharp Elsi Mate: I’m not from Clare though.
I was working in the small grill bar kitchen of the Berkeley court hotel that night, and will always remember flooding the kitchen with water from the Bain marie and calling the union rep down under health and safety in order to get the kitchen closed so we could watch the fight in the canteen
God. 25 years… it was incredible. Stayed in Jurys in Cork city and got but to flight with 2 English friends. When Eubank appeared on the motor bike about 10 feet from us. It was definitely the best atmosphere I ever felt. The 2 lads forgot themselves and started Stevo along with everyone else.
@DeWitt: I was about 10ft away from where he appeared on the motorbike too! And when Eubank lost and was leaving the ring, the chants of “On your bike, on your bike, on your bike.” rang out.
Really like the idea of a Katie Taylor fight some time outside of Dublin.
@Sharp Elsi Mate: has she fought in dublin?
@Darren World: I’m sure in her earlier days! In her current form if she ever fights at here at home you can be sure it will be in Dublin or the general area.
I was in school in St. Brigids Castleknock at the time and Collins son was a year or two below us… In he landed on the Honda Gold wing with the belt and all…. It was absolutely brilliant. We all went mental. I think from that moment I loved boxing.