By Simon Lewis, from Chambers Bay
Masters champions Jordan Spieth believes his caddie Michael Greller can be his not-so secret weapon to conquering Chambers Bay and winning the US Open this week.
The 21-year-old world number two is second favourite behind Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the No.1, heading into Thursday’s opening round at the linksy course lining Puget Sound near Seattle. Yet having local-born Greller on his bag could give the Texan that extra push to complete back-to-back major victories.
Spieth has played eight-year-old course several times already, from its championship debut at the US Amateur in 2010 when he failed to qualify for the final match play stages to a casual round with Greller’s friends on the eve of the caddie’s wedding and his practice here last week has made him confident to return to complete his preparations over the next couple of days.
“I was excited to get here. I was excited for the major championship venues this year. I think they’re cool. They’re interesting, given here and Whistling Straits, they’re going to play different than typical US Opens and PGA championships, being on linksy golf courses. So you almost have three Open championships-ish and a Masters. But I was excited to come back.
“I was excited for Michael, too, such a cool week to him to come to a place that’s close to his heart. I feel like if there’s any advantage given, it would be towards us with his knowledge of the place.”
Asked to elaborate on the value of Greller’s local knowledge at a course unknown to most of the field, Spieth replied: “I think it’s going to help driving the ball, sight lines and understanding when things get firm he’s going to know where it would run off to a little better, maybe.
“I think off the tee it’s really going to help. Into greens, I don’t think he’s seen where the pins are going to be and he’s certainly hasn’t seen the greens the way we’re going to play them this weekend. So we’re going to have to adapt to that.
“Putting, I pretty much call my own anyway, bring him in for some reassurance. So I think driving the ball mainly.”
Spieth may have to compete with his caddie for local attention this week and even that he saw as a positive.
“I think he’s on the front page of the sports section, and I just saw a picture of that, so he’s really good going to take heat from that from us. It’s really cool.”