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SPORTSWednesday 13 January 2016
On The Fringe: Europeans using
EurAsia Cup to prep
Spieth uses Tiger comparisons to stay grounded for the Ryder Cup
Jordan Spieth hits on the 18th fairway during the final round of the Tournament of Champions golf eth is in his fourth PGA Tour STEVE DOUGLAS
tournament, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at Kapalua Plantation Course on Kapalua, Hawaii. Spieth fin- season. AP Sports Writer
ished 30 under par for the tournament win. Woods won seven of his first Europe captain Darren
38 starts. Spieth won seven Clarke was keen to stress
(AP Photo/Matt York) of his first 77 starts. that the Ryder Cup in
Spieth wasn’t doing the September wasn’t in his
DOUG FERGUSON won the Masters and the they done?’ and ‘What are math when he walked off thoughts heading into the
AP Golf Writer U.S. Open, pursued the cal- they thinking about how the 18th green at Kapalua second edition of the Eur-
HONOLULU (AP) — To com- endar Grand Slam like no I’m talking?’ when they’re and was asked about Asia Cup this week.
pare Jordan Spieth with Ti- one before, crossed $20 sitting there with 45 and 79 comparisons with Woods. “There’s no Ryder Cup
ger Woods is not a mistake million in career PGA Tour wins and major champion- He heard “Tiger” and stuff going on in the back
because Spieth does it all earnings and established ships ... you look at guys I thought about a decade of my mind,” Clarke said
the time. himself as No. 1 in the world. come in contact with, my of dominance and num- on Tuesday. It seems his
That’s what keeps him He has the golf world at his peers on the golf course bers that will be tough for players see it differently.
grounded. feet. who are just so much more anyone to match. “One of the main reasons
And don’t be shy about He keeps Woods and Mick- accomplished, and it keeps “Nowhere near,” he said. “I I wanted to play the Eur-
throwing Phil Mickelson into elson on a pedestal. me a little smaller.” don’t think there’s any rea- Asia Cup so much was to
that conversation. Spieth “The more you look at Tiger, The comparisons with son to compare. It’s awfully get invaluable team ex-
thinks a lot about Lefty, too. you look at Phil, you start Woods are largely about early. We’re excited about perience in a Ryder Cup
As he walked toward realizing how far away you age. where we’re at to start our year,” said Irish player
a Maui sunset with a lei are from one of the best Since 1970 when the PGA career. What Tiger’s done Shane Lowry, making it
around his neck and the players to ever play the Tour began keeping more I can’t image ever being clear where his priorities
silver trophy in his hand game,” Spieth said. “And thorough records, Spieth done. But it’s nice to be in lay going into the match
from an eight-shot victory if you look at that, it keeps and Woods are the only that company.” against Asia starting in
in the Hyundai Tournament your head small. players with seven victo- Spieth isn’t the first player to Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
of Champions, Spieth was “Now hopefully, you have ries at age 22. Woods was be compared with Woods. “A lot of the lads on our
asked what kept him from a chance to ask me that about a month younger Just over four years ago, team next week are look-
getting a big head. when there’s a possibility when he picked up his sev- Rory McIlroy was 22 when ing to qualify for the Ryder
It would be hard to fault of it getting big,” he add- enth tour victory, and he he won his first major at Cup this year and (this
him. In the last 10 months, ed. “But for now, I think the had not quite completed Congressional by smash- week) gives us a great
the 22-year-old Texan has more I look at, ‘What have two full years as a pro. Spi- ing the U.S. Open scoring chance to show Darren
record in an eight-shot vic- what we are capable
tory. One major, and the of and hopefully impress
comparisons with Woods him.”
had already begun. Lowry is one of a number
For all his success, for the of Europe’s new breed
magic of his wedges and looking to take their op-
the pureness of his putting, portunity this week in the
comparing Spieth with absence of the conti-
Woods is based on projec- nent’s star names — Rory
tions and predictions while McIlroy, Henrik Stenson,
the kid is preaching pa- Justin Rose, Sergio Gar-
tience. cia, Martin Kaymer, and
“I just think it’s premature, Graeme McDowell.
but I’ll say that probably Jamie Donaldson, Victor
my entire career,” Spieth Dubuisson, and Stephen
said. Gallacher all played
“There’s just such an age in the first EurAsia Cup,
gap that I understand the which finished tied at 10-
comparisons are going 10 in 2014, and went on
to be there. I hope they to make their Ryder Cup
continue to be there. That debuts later that year in
means I’m still being in the Gleneagles.
same ballpark as he is.” For maybe half of the
For now, that’s not a bad 2016 team, the same re-
place to be.q ward is there.q
