Jordan Spieth Says 'Don't Compare me to Tiger Woods' on Eve of Open

Jordan Spieth has distanced himself from inevitable comparisons with Tiger Woods as he stands on the brink of golfing history. (Spieth "Aware" of Ben Hogan Legacy at British Open)

Spieth heads into the Open Championship having won the first two majors of 2015. Ben Hogan, in 1953, is the only person to have claimed the Masters , and Open Championship in a calendar year. Cross-references between Spieth, 21, and the once-imperious Woods, who only had one major to his name at his 22nd birthday, have been widespread but do not sit comfortably with the Texan at this point. (Jordan Spieth in Spotlight)

"I think the parallels that are drawn between me and Tiger are unfair," Spieth said at St Andrews on Wednesday morning. "I think that's not something that, in my mind, is necessary.

"I think that's something that people are looking for but is not there with anybody right now because it's something I don't think that can be compared until at least midway through their career.

"This is an early timetable. When people ask me about those kind of parallels I try and shake it off because it's not the same. I'm extremely happy with where I've been and how we've been able to compete and win early and win a couple majors at my age, but at the same time, I certainly have an appreciation for how Tiger could continue and continue and continue to keep winning majors at just an unbelievable percentage of the amount that he played in because it's not easy. It's very challenging.

"You have to be at the top of your game and the top of your mental game. All the skills have to be there, and for him to consistently do it is a completely different level that nobody that I think is playing right now has seen that. Obviously Jack Nicklaus coming before and Arnie [Palmer] and Hogan, that's the category that you should be paralleling. I don't think anybody right now it's fair to do that." (Tiger Woods Says He is Still in it to Win in it)

Spieth is the overwhelming favourite to prevail on the Old Course, a matter due partly to the absence of the injured Rory McIlroy. Spieth has never played competitively at this venue but has branded St Andrews, along with Augusta National, his favourite golfing location.

Spieth also brushed aside the prospect of strong gusts, possibly up to 40mph, disrupting his game. "I think it's fun," Spieth said. "If we wanted good weather we'd go play in California.

"We come over here because we want to embrace the opportunity of handling these conditions. I understand that there's a possibility for a lot of this tournament to be dependent on the draw the first two days, at least for a few strokes. It doesn't mean you can't make it up if you get the bad end of it, but it will be harder. Nobody is going to know what that is here because it changes hourly. Going into it, you have to be as positive as can be." (Bubba Watson Upbeat on Open Chances)

And going into it, Spieth hopes to place the wider significance of victory at the back of his mind. "Sure, I'm aware. I like to study the history of golf, and I think it's extremely special what this year has brought to our team and to have a chance to do what only one other person in the history of golf has done doesn't come around very often," Spieth added. (Not Daunted at Home of Golf, Anirban Lahiri Bares All Ahead of The Open)

"I'm sure embracing that opportunity but by the time I start on Thursday, it won't be in my head. It'll be about how can I bring this Open Championship down to just another event, get out there and try and get myself into contention. But I am certainly aware of it."