Golf world erupts over Jordan Spieth's big Tiger Woods admission

Jordan Spieth says watching how well Tiger Woods did in his incredible comeback at this year's Masters, merely reinforced how unhappy he was with his own game.

Three-time major winner Spieth and four-time champion Rory McIlroy will play alongside Woods for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship in a grouping that has sent the golfing world into a frenzy.

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The superstar trio, with 22 major titles between them, opens just after 8am local time at the 10th tee at Southern Hills in what promises to be an electrifying start with extra noise, movement and distraction.

"You've got to embrace it and have fun and recognise these are the kind of pairings I'll get to tell my kid about some day," Spieth said.

"It's pretty exciting to be able to play these events growing up with the guy that you idolised."

Woods makes the second start of his comeback from severe leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car crash after an emotional return at April's Masters, where he battled through pain to walk 72 holes, spectators roaring at the feat.

In contrast, Spieth had a second round to forget at Augusta and failed to make the cut for the first time in his career after signing off for a disastrous six-over after 36 holes.

The 28-year-old admitted that his struggles were even harder to fathom after watching Tiger Woods play so well - essentially on one leg.

"I didn't feel very good about myself knowing he was on one leg and made the cut and I didn't," Spieth said.

"You can't ever doubt the man anymore. "He just continues to amaze people."

Jordan Spieth gunning for career grand slam

The PGA Championship is the one major title that has so far eluded Spieth, who could join a who's who of legends if he can complete the career grand slam.

"You feel like you kind of accomplished golf when you win a career Grand Slam," he said.

Spieth is looking to join an exclusive club that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Woods and Nicklaus have three career Grand Slams, having won each of the four majors at least three times.

Spieth won last month's PGA Heritage title and was a runner-up last week, hoping those crowds will prepare him for the PGA and a shot at golfing history.

"Sometimes when the crowds get big enough, it's kind of just a colour blur in a way," Spieth said.

"When you're used to being in front of big crowds by contending on the weekend, it starts to feel just a little more comfortable."

Spieth also hopes the early PGA crowds will help prepare him for a weekend run at golf history.

"If I can play well these next couple days, given the crowds that will be out there, the weekend might actually feel a little like a breather in a way," Spieth said.

"There's extra noise. You've got to wait longer for the crosswalks. When Tiger finishes on a hole there's going to be people leaving. Feels like a weekend round on Thursday."

Woods says he has the shotmaking to win the title if his body can stand the strain of walking 72 holes with enough endurance and stamina to be competitive at the finish.

"The desire to win is still the same," Woods said. "Preparation is a lot more difficult, a lot more time consuming and a lot tougher mentally."

The final man in the star-studded trio, McIlroy is seeking a fifth major title but his first since 2014.

Both understand the crowds will be drawn by Woods, the 15-time major winner who overcame back surgery to win the 2019 Masters for his first major triumph in 11 years.

"He's stubborn. He's determined," McIlroy said. "He lives for these major championships and if he believes he can get around 18 holes, he believes he can win."

with agencies

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