Jordan Spieth Talks Career Grand Slam Pursuit Ahead of 2025 PGA Championship

Jordan Speith, who has been seeking a career Grand Slam since his win at the 2017 Open Championship, says he is "surprised" by the attention on his pursuit ahead of the 2025 PGA Championship.

He knows the hype has to do with Rory McIlroy, who became the sixth golfer to achieve the feat at the Masters in April.

"There's been a number of years I've come to the PGA and no one's really asked me about it, and there's been some years where it was a storyline, I guess," Speith told reporters at the 2:00 mark of Tuesday's pre-tournament press conference. "It's funny— I think, if Rory didn't, it wouldn't have been a storyline for me, here, necessarily."

Speither continued, "I've kind of been surprised by the dynamic a little bit. But it's always circled on the calendar for me.

"I guess, if I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I'd pick this one for that reason."

Speith will be competing against a field topped by McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler starting Thursday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.

He told reporters that he had been inspired by watching McIlroy end his 11-year wait for a career Grand Slam by winning a one-hole playoff over Justin Rose at Augusta.

"Obviously, watching Rory win after giving it a try for a number of years was inspiring. You could tell it was a harder win than, most of the time he makes it look a lot easier," Speith said. "So, that was obviously on the forefront of his mind. Something like that has not been done by many people, and there's a reason why.

"But I'd love to throw my hat in the ring, give it a chance."

Part of the reason Speith may believe he has a shot this spring is because of his recovery from the left wrist surgery he underwent last August.

The injury, which dated back to May 2023, bothered him last season to the point that he said a tendon "popped out" during the RBC Heritage in April 2024, per PGATour.com's Paul Hodowanic.

Speith told reporters on Tuesday that his wrist has bothered him "less and less as the year has gone on."

"Just the ease of not worrying about it dislocating, or sublexing... is really nice," Speith said.

Speith holds two top-three finishes at the PGA Championship, having come in second in 2015 and tied for third in 2019, but has not finished in the top ten in 10 other tries.

He hopes to earn a higher finish this weekend at Quail Hollow because of what he described as an improved driving ability.

"Because of my driver becoming a weapon more than it used to be, that leaves me in a position where I feel a little more comfortable on these courses," Speith said.

The PGA Championship runs from Thursday through Sunday, with coverage beginning at 8 a.m. ET each day. Masters runner-up Rose, as well as Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and Brooks Koepka, will be among the players expected to compete for the Wanamaker Trophy this weekend.