Jordan Spieth wants PGA Championship and Ryder Cup success after Open woes
"We've got to start a trend back the other way and make them develop a task force, you know?"
By Raz Mirza
Last Updated: 17/07/16 5:38pm
Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth says he wants a strong finish to the season and has his eyes set on winning the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.
The Texan was never in a position to contend for the Claret Jug but at least finished with his best round of the week at The Open.
He duly completed a three-under-par 68 to finish two over par at Royal Troon, which was surprisingly his first sub-par round in the majors since opening with a 66 at Augusta in April in defence of his Masters title.
With the PGA Championship starting in 11 days' time he will try to take the positives out of that as he heads home to Dallas.
"I'm very pleased with the way we finished in the half of the field that we had Thursday, Friday," he said.
Leaderboard
"We're trying to look at positives. I don't think we're far off from being able to tee off on Sunday afternoon at a major. All the parts seem to be coming together, whether it shows off after a 30th-place finish or not. I've just got to fine-tune a couple things when we get back home, that's it."
And with the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine taking precedence at the end of September, Spieth is focused on gaining revenge for the heartbreaking 2014 defeat at Gleneagles, where he scored two-and-a-half-points for USA, but lost his crucial singles match to Graeme McDowell to hand the trophy to Europe.
"That week at PGA Championship alone could become one of the most special weeks I've ever had. So that's what we're focused on is grinding for that," he said.
"Then we have the playoffs, the FedExCup Championship, so there's obviously incentive there. Then maybe most importantly PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, we've got to win one.
"We've got to start a trend back the other way and make them develop a task force, you know? There is a big focus on the end of this year with certainly a ton to play for. For me personally I've got to avenge that loss.
"I felt like the 2014 singles match was a really important match that I lost for the team, and I'm going to go back and try to avenge that the best I can."
Meanwhile, Jason Day was left disappointed with his short game at Royal Troon but insists that he will simply go away and try to improve ahead of next year's championship.
"It was a mixed bag of all sorts of things, I guess," he told Sky Sports. "I think, if I put it in a nutshell, my short game wasn't sharp enough this week, I missed too many putts and didn't get it up and down from the opportunities that I had, especially close around the greens for birdie.
"Even when I was struggling to hit the greens, trying to get those up and down were a little bit tough for me this week. I don't mind what happened this week, it's just something to try and get better for next year and see how it goes."
Before that, however, Day will look to defend his US PGA Championship title in 10 days' time and it is an experience the Australian is looking forward to.
"It's going to be special," he said. "It's obviously a new experience for me. I'm looking forward to soaking up the first part of the week but once Thursday comes around then I'm there to try and defend that trophy, hopefully I'll get it back again."
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