Chris CarlsonJordan Spieth hits from the rough on the on the 16th hole during a practice round at the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)CHARLOTTE — It was the opening round of last year’s PGA Championship and Rory McIlroy had just missed birdie putts from close range on each of his first two holes of the tournament. His head dropped, shoulders slumped and he went on to shoot a disappointing 74 before missing the cut a day later.
A year later, McIlroy was sitting in the interview room at Quail Hollow extoling the golfing mind of Jordan Spieth, who this week at the age of 24 has a chance become the youngest player by six months to complete the career Grand Slam.
What stood out to McIlroy about Spieth’s victory last month at Royal Birkdale was not just his great escape from the 13th hole but his ability to turn a negative into a positive, particularly in dire situations. “He has got that knack,” McI..