You want to talk about motivation? Let’s talk about Rory McIlroy, who just did something that’s been dangling in front of him like a carrot on a string for over a decade—he finally won the Masters. And in doing so, he lit a fire under Jordan Spieth that’s burning all the way to Quail Hollow.
Because now, Spieth has a shot at golf immortality himself. The career Grand Slam is back in play, and Spieth’s eyes are locked on that Wanamaker Trophy.
The Ghosts of Quail Hollow
Here’s the twist—Quail Hollow isn’t just the next battleground, it’s also where Spieth’s Grand Slam hopes first sputtered. Back in 2017, fresh off winning the Open Championship, Spieth came into the PGA Championship with a chance to seal the Slam. But instead of walking into the history books, he walked off tied for 28th.
That was eight years ago. Since then? There were many close calls, many setbacks, and not a lot of movement in the majors column. He hasn’t cracked the top 25 at a PGA Championship since 2019.
But now? There’s a spark. And you can trace it back to Augusta National.
McIlroy’s Breakthrough Is Spieth’s Blueprint
After so many near misses and heartbreak, watching Rory finally conquer Augusta was more than just inspiring to fans. It hit home for Spieth. After all, he’s been grinding too, trying to reclaim that magic that made him a three-time major champion before he turned 24.
And McIlroy? Before slipping on that green jacket, he hadn’t won a major in almost 11 years. As Spieth put it, “It was harder than anybody, maybe ever trying to win the Masters… and then to go do it—it was very inspiring.”
McIlroy’s win didn’t just mark a personal triumph—it set the stage for someone else to rise. Spieth knows the clock’s ticking, and now he’s got the roadmap. He’s seen what it looks like to climb out of the drought, fight through the noise, the critics, the internal battles, and still come out with history.
Trending at the Right Time
Let’s talk form. Spieth’s got momentum. After a wrist injury plagued his 2024 season, he seems to be turning a corner. Three top 10s in 10 starts this year—and just this past weekend at the Byron Nelson, he fired off a scorching final-round 62.
That’s his best round since 2021. And while it wasn’t enough to catch runaway leader Scottie Scheffler, it was enough to earn Spieth something arguably more important—belief.
Scheffler gave Spieth a front-row seat to excellence during the first two rounds. Spieth admitted, “Just getting your butt kicked right there face to face at this tournament really stinks.” But here’s the key—it didn’t discourage him. It lit him up. He walked away hungry, not humbled. That’s dangerous for the field.
And now we’re two weeks out from the PGA Championship. If Spieth carries this energy into Quail Hollow, if he channels the inspiration from McIlroy and the fire from getting outrun by Scheffler, there’s every chance he could add his name to one of the rarest clubs in the game.
The Grand Slam club is waiting. Rory’s in. Spieth might just be next.
