Jordan Spieth aiming for extended stay as world No 1 ahead of FedEx Cup playoffs

Having fulfilled what he termed his “lifelong ambition” of becoming the world No1, Jordan Spieth said yesterday he will not have any trouble in finding new motivation.

The 22-year-old’s standout season has seen him win The Masters and the US Open, finish second at the PGA Championship and tie for fourth at The Open. Coupled with two other wins on the PGA Tour, it is hardly a wonder that Spieth is leading the FedEx Cup standings entering the Playoffs this week.

And while he acknowledged that he didn’t consider the Playoff events on par with the majors, Spieth joked that the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup certainly “put some food on the table”.

“I put winning the FedExCup below a major championship,” Spieth said on the eve of The Barclays, which starts on Thursday at Plainfield Country Club.

“It’s something I’d love to win someday. The names on that trophy are no fluke. And so it’s something that hopefully I get a lot of chances at. I’d certainly set it as something I want to achieve more than winning just any regular event, definitely.

“It’s something that would put some food on the table for sure,” he dead-panned.

Spieth started the 2013 season without any status on the PGA Tour, but continued to post one good finish after another, which helped him gain entry into subsequent events.

It all changed when he secured his playing privilege by winning the John Deere Classic that year. In less than three years, he has shot to the top of the world rankings with his finish at the PGA Championship.

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“I wouldn’t trade it for anything and to be honest, there are more and more records to try and break,” Spieth said, adding he did not want his stay as world No 1 to be short.

“I’m happy to be in that position now. But I’d like to obviously hold it. I think the only way to go about it is just focusing on this week. If you win each week, you’re going to stay No 1 and in my mind the goal is to approach each tournament to try and win and then try and keep this position for hopefully years.

“But again, it can change in two week’s time, so I’m aware of that. And that bit of fear on the back end of it is enough to get me going and to keep working hard.”

The tournament is without world No 2 Rory McIlroy, who decided to give himself another week’s rest before returning to action. The Northern Irishman played the PGA Championship, coming out of an ankle injury which saw him miss The Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Despite his absence, McIlroy can still reclaim the world No 1 ranking. He has fewer points to defend from last season (he was tied 22nd), and a Golf Channel report said Spieth will have to finish 14th or better to keep his hold on the position.

Also missing the event, in an effort to be better prepared for the next three weeks, is Sergio Garcia. Meanwhile, PGA Championship winner and world No 3 Jason Day withdrew from the Pro-Am yesterday due to a back issue, but is expected to make his first-round tee time.

Cornel Driessen, Day’s physiotherapist and trainer, said that the withdrawal was a precautionary move, and added: “Jason tweaked his back moving an item under his motor coach last night. This is a precautionary withdrawal for a long-standing disc issue.”

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