History is made each year at the PGA Championship. But at the 2022 edition at Southern Hills, Jordan Spieth is once again hoping to carve out a spot as one of golf’s all-time greats.
Spieth, a three-time major winner already, will come to this year’s PGA Championship looking to notch the career Grand Slam. It’s been on his radar since he won his third major, the 2017 Open Championship.
This year will mark the sixth try for Spieth to notch the career Grand Slam.
2022 will also mark the first PGA Championship for Spieth as a father, whose son, Sammy, was born in November.
Despite a dip in performance in the years following his Claret Jug triumph, Spieth has recently regained the form that saw him win 10 times on the PGA Tour in two years.
He broke through for his first win on Tour in four years at the 2021 Valero Texas Open. Spieth will also come into this year’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills off a victory at the 2022 RBC Heritage. He won in a playoff over last season’s FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay.
“I would say tee to green, if you take my last three events, it's as good as it's ever been,” said Spieth of his game after his trophy-lifting performance at the Heritage. “Obviously very happy to be in this position. Every year, I think about (the Sentry Tournament of Champions) at the beginning of the year once I'm there, and I missed it for a few years, and I never want to miss it again, and I'm really glad that this will get me there. What a great tournament to win.”
Spieth had a magical major run in 2015. He finished runner-up at the PGA Championship that year to go along with first-place results at both the Masters and the U.S. Open. He also finished tied for fourth at The Open Championship. His second-place finish at Whistling Straits saw him finish three shots back of winner Jason Day.
“It's by far the best consolation, by far the best loss I think I've ever had,” said Spieth, who got to world No.1 with his finish. “A lot of positives come out of today. To be No. 1 in the world as a team is fantastic. Certainly, it was a lifelong goal of mine, and that was accomplished today.”
Since 2015, Spieth hasn’t missed the cut at any PGA Championship. He finished tied for third in 2019 and was tied for 30th at last year’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.
Only five male golfers in history have won all four of golf’s majors: Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
Spieth said in 2021 at Kiawah Island that majors are what he tries to peak for, regardless of the history tied to his accomplishment. And as we inch closer to another PGA Championship, it’s history Spieth is once again trying to make.
“This tournament will always be circled until I'm able to hopefully win it some day,” said Spieth in 2016. “It will always be circled to complete the career Grand Slam, which will ultimately achieve a life-long goal for me.”
