Wednesday 15 July 2015 19:54, UK
Jordan Spieth will replace Rory McIlroy as world No 1 if he wins the 144th Open and completes the third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam.
Spieth's play-off victory in the John Deere Classic on Sunday means he can overtake the injured McIlroy in the rankings with success at St Andrews.
The 21-year-old's decision to compete in Illinois, where he won his first PGA Tour title in 2013, rather than contest the Scottish Open at Gullane or practise on links courses in Britain raised some eyebrows.
But the Masters and US Open champion had no doubts it was the right decision after defeating veteran Tom Gillis on the second extra hole.
He said: "I really didn't care anyway. I came here for a reason, and we accomplished that reason, and certainly have some momentum going into next week. This tournament means a lot to me. This is a tournament I truly love.
"I've got plenty in the tank. Leading into the Masters, those couple of weeks right before could have taken a lot out of me with a runner-up finish and then a play-off loss. And we rebounded nicely."
Spieth is a strong favourite for the Open despite only having played one round at the Old Course before the 2011 Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, with US Open runner-up Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler next in the betting.
The Texan will be taking part in just his third Open having tied for 44th place at Muirfield two years ago and tied for 36th last year at Hoylake.
Fowler's win at Gullane has lifted him to a career-high fifth in the world rankings and the 26-year-old is now hoping to emulate Phil Mickelson in 2013 by winning the Scottish Open and Open Championship in consecutive weeks.
Former world No 1 Tiger Woods, who won the Open at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, and spent the weekend practising at the Old Course.
The current world No 241 is taking succour from his recent performance at the Greenbrier Open, where he posted his first bogey-free round since 2013.
He said: "I feel good. Sunday at Greenbrier is probably the best I hit it in two years. That was fun. It sounds crazy when I told everyone at Greenbrier that I felt close, after the scores I shot at the Memorial (85) and the US Open (80).
"I put it together at Greenbrier and hit it really good. (Instructor) Chris (Como) told me it was the first time I led the field in proximity to the hole with my iron game."
