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Jordan Spieth seeks to join Ben Hogan (1953) as the only men to capture the year’s first three majors. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
• COURSE: St. Andrews (Old Course), 7,297 yards, par 72. The Open Championship returns once again to golf’s ancestral home, where shepherds are said to have started knocking stones into rabbit holes as far back as 800 years ago. The Old Course was formalized in the 1500s with 22 holes – 11 out along the North Sea, 11 back. The layout was reconfigured to 18 holes by the mid-1700s, establishing the standard used today. Most of the course’s 112 bunkers were natural creations, offering little rhyme or reason to the golfer except to avoid them. The Open made its first visit in 1873 and has played 28 editions on the Old Course, crowning such champions as Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points.
• CHARITY: The R&A contributes more than $7 million annually to programs designed to enhance the game worldwide. Particular emphasis is given to junior golf programs, along with growth initiatives in emerging golfing nations.
• FIELD WATCH: Jordan Spieth, just the sixth man to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year, heads a lineup expected to feature 79 of the top 80 in this week’s world rankings. The missing name, though, is the guy who would be defending – No.1 Rory McIlroy, who sprained his ankle in a pickup soccer mishap last weekend. … Openings remain for the John Deere Classic’s leading top-5 finisher not already in the field, plus three highest top-10 finishers at the Scottish Open still without berths. … Former champions Tom Watson and Nick Faldo will say their goodbyes to the Old Course. For Watson, 2015 marks his final Open. … Among the 12 survivors of local qualifying is Retief Goosen, twice a U.S. Open champion. Colin Montgomerie’s attempt fell short by four.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 267, Greg Norman (1993 at Royal St. Georges).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Mark Hayes (2nd round, 1977 at Turnberry), Isao Aoki (3rd round, 1980 at Muirfield), Greg Norman (2nd round, 1986 at Turnberry), Paul Broadhurst (3rd round, 1990 at St. Andrews), Jodie Mudd (4th round, 1991 at Royal Birkdale), Nick Faldo (2nd round, 1993 at Royal St. Georges), Payne Stewart (4th round, 1993 at Royal St. Georges), Rory McIlroy (1st round, 2010 at St. Andrews).
• LAST YEAR: McIlroy became just the third man to win three majors by age 25, holding off Sergio Garcia’s charge on a Sunday that originally appeared set for a coronation lap. McIlroy led by six heading into the final day, but sputtered along the front nine while Garcia mounted pressure. The Spaniard made the turn in 3-under par, then eagled the par-5 10th to trim the lead to two. McIlroy birdied No. 10 to widen the lead, but Garcia’s birdie at the par-5 16th again pulled him within two. McIlroy followed with his own birdie at No.16, essentially sealing the outcome to finish with a 71. Garcia carded a 66, tying for second with Rickie Fowler (67).
• STORYLINES: Spieth, whose gripping U.S. Open win followed a Masters runaway, seeks to join Ben Hogan (1953) as the only men to capture the year’s first three majors. Tiger Woods (2000) is the only other to win three majors in a year. … Woods returns to the site of two of his three Open crowns, hoping to recapture some of the magic from 2000 and ’05. Signs of encouragement were evident in his last outing, with three rounds in the 60s at The Greenbrier Classic. … Emotions figure to run high when Watson crosses the Swilcan Bridge for the final time. The five-time champion will finish with 38 Open appearances, tying Jack Nicklaus and Sandy Hurd for No.2 on the all-time list.
• SHORT CHIPS: The World Golf Hall of Fame welcomes four new members in Monday ceremonies at the University of St. Andrews, enshrining Mark O’Meara, David Graham, Laura Davies and architect A.W. Tillinghast. It’s the first induction ceremony to be moved away from Hall grounds in Florida. … A purse increase moves the Open payout to $9.77 million at current exchange rates, leaving it just shy of the $10 million offered by the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 4 a.m.-3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Saturday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (ESPN). Sunday, 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (ESPN).
• RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (ESPN Radio). Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (ESPN Radio). Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (ESPN Radio).
Good Luck to everyone this week as we watch to see if Jordan can capture third straight major
