Golfer Jordan Spieth pursues Career Grand Slam while contenders evaluate Rory McIlroy's potential for a Grand Slam feat
Fresh Take:
Jordan Spieth, aged 31, is gearing up for his ninth shot at the career Grand Slam, aiming to secure his first victory since the 2022 PGA Heritage tournament. The Texan has already tasted significant success, snatching the 2015 Masters and US Open, and the 2017 British Open.
Much like Spieth, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who recently claimed the Masters title, has battled a similar struggle. Having missed out on the career Grand Slam 10 times at Augusta National, McIlroy finally broke the dry spell in 2025, securing his last major victory in 2014.
"His win at the Masters was inspiring," Spieth commended, acknowledging the difficulty McIlroy faced during the tournament. Spieth showcased his form with a stunning final round 62 at the Byron Nelson last week and prepares to face the Quail Hollow layout, which he previously challenged in 2017 for his first career Grand Slam attempt.
Over the years, Spieth has consistently performed well in major championships: boasting five top-four finishes since his last major win, including a podium finish at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.
While the pursuit of history on a new course each year adds an extra layer of challenge for Spieth, McIlroy highlighted, "It's challenging for Jordan to have to move from one course to another every year, unlike me who plays at the same venue every year for the Masters."
Yet, the stress of chasing history can't be ignored, McIlroy admitted, confessing that it lingers in his mind, consciously or subconsciously.
There's even a remote possibility of a calendar slam by McIlroy, colloquially referred to as a "Rory Slam", which would add the PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open to a 2025 trophy collection that already includes the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Players Championship, and the Masters.
McIlroy has won four times on Quail Hollow in PGA Tour events, making his contender for another impressive performance. The upcoming U.S. Open will take place at Portrush, a Northern Ireland course McIlroy is familiar with, which could work to his advantage.
Ireland's Shane Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, remarked, "Rory going back as the Masters champion now is going to take a little bit of heat off me."
Other top contenders, such as Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele, have acknowledged the significance of McIlroy's recent triumph and strive to emulate his success. Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship winner, noted, "Rory winning the Grand Slam was huge. It was inspiring to me."
According to Schauffele, who won last year's PGA Championship and British Open, "Getting yourself in position to do it would be awesome. I'm far away. Closer than some, but I still feel far away. I still need to win another major, I should say the correct major, before I'm in the talks of it."
"Spieth's upcoming challenge at Quail Hollow, where he previously attempted his first career Grand Slam in 2017, can be seen as a significant sports-analysis opportunity, given his recent form and the history associated with the course in relation to his career Grand Slam aspirations. In the meantime, Rory McIlroy, who recently secured his fifth major championship and raised expectations of a potential 'Rory Slam', might employ his familiarity with the upcoming U.S. Open course at Portrush to his advantage, making golf-analysis crucial to predict the potential outcome."
