Jordan Spieth has some bad news for those hoping to dethrone him at this week's Australian Open: the Texan sensation says he's an even better golfer than when he won the title last year.
That's some claim given Spieth clinched his six-shot win with a course record final round 63, but the 22-year-old World No.1 is confident The Australian Golf Club course will allow him to show off his widening skill set.
"We've fine-tuned skills this year that. I didn't have in previous years and I'm at least more committed to trusting in tough situations," Spieth said in Sydney on Monday.
"So this course with the breeze and the firm conditions should bring a lot of these positions out and I can tighten up some of the chip and wedge play and do a better job of it.
"It's going to be hard to improve on the result from last year but I hope to be in the same position come Sunday."
Spieth completed nine holes in practice on Monday, when the weather swung between bright sunshine and overcast breezy conditions.
"I got some really good work in," he said.
"I practised quite a bit and I only played nine. It's almost there. It should be there by Thursday."
After laying down a marker for 2015 with his victory at last year's tournament, Spieth said he knows how important it is for his confidence to do well again this time around.
"I'm confident. Probably more so than entering last year's event. The golf course is just in immaculate shape and I love being in Sydney," he said.
"It's very big to put an emphasis on the last couple of tournaments of the season because it really is a springboard to the next year.
"It's a big confidence builder and you want to get off to a good start to the season to relieve some of the stress and take the pressure off.
"This event which really taught me how to win, taught me how to close last year. Sunday's closing round was a magnificent round and I'm still not sure what happened."
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