SILVIS, Illinois -- Most golfers believe the path to the British Open title starts a week early in Scotland.
Jordan Spieth is content to stay at home and continue his Grand Slam push at the tournament that launched his PGA Tour career.
Rather than join the majority of the world's top golfers and prep for St. Andrews by playing the links course in Gullane, Scotland, Spieth will spend the weekend at the often-overlooked John Deere Classic.
It's not just that Spieth wants to remain loyal to the tournament where he won for the first time in 2013 at age 19.
He's also just very comfortable playing the TPC Deere Run, one of the easiest courses on the tour.
"If I thought I wasn't going to play well next week because I played here, it would be a different story. I probably wouldn't be here. This is good preparation for me to get good feels, to get in contention and to find out what's on and what's off," said Spieth, one of just six golfers to win the U.S. Open and the Masters in the same season.
"I'm here because I believe I can win this week. I believe it's advantageous for me to try and win this week."
Spieth's rapid rise to No. 2 in the world -- with injured Rory McIlroy's top spot within reach as soon as next weekend -- has taken many by surprise.
Those who watched Spieth's breakthrough on this Quad Cities course two years ago saw his potential first-hand.
One year after playing the JDC at just 18 on a sponsor's exemption, Spieth forced his way into a three-way playoff by holing out from the 18th-hole bunker.
Spieth then outlasted David Hearn and local favorite Zach Johnson to become the first teenager to win on the tour in 84 years.
Spieth also played the Quad Cities and the Open Championship in back-to-back weeks in 2014, finishing tied for 36th at Royal Liverpool.
Spieth said the only issue he has with skipping Scotland is the 6-hour time difference he'll have to make up following Sunday's final round.
But it might even be easier for Spieth to get into a rhythm at Deere Run -- which yielded more eagles and birdies than any other PGA course in 2013-14.
"It doesn't matter where it is. When I get over there, whether I play well or I don't play well, it has nothing to do with what I did the week before. I will certainly have enough energy. I will certainly have enough rest, and I will be as prepared as I can be," Spieth said.
Though Spieth is by far the marquee name in this event, he'll likely have plenty of competition.
Johnson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and serves on the tournament committee, has shot in the 60s in 24 consecutive rounds at Deere Run.
Steve Stricker, a native of nearby Wisconsin, won three in a row here from 2009-11.
Last year's winner, Brian Harman, and Kevin Kisner should also push Spieth.
But this year's event will be all about Spieth and how it impacts his run at a third consecutive major.
"He stuck with his commitment, which is very honorable. At the same time, there has only been so many guys in so many years who've won the first two majors, and there's a lot of pressure on him. I applaud him," Johnson said.
Stallings suspended
Scott Stallings has been suspended for three months for violating the PGA Tour's anti-doping policy, making him the third player to be sanctioned for performance-enhancing drugs since the policy was introduced to golf seven years ago.
Stallings said in a statement released Tuesday by the PGA Tour that he took a supplement to help with chronic fatigue and turned himself in when he realized in February that it was on the list of banned substances.
"I regret my inadvertent mistake in not doing my homework to know for sure what was on the list of permitted and non-permitted substances," Stallings said. "I take responsibility and accept the penalty imposed by the PGA Tour."
The suspension means the 30-year-old Stallings is out for the rest of the season. He would not be eligible to return until Oct. 7, the week of the Presidents Cup in South Korea. The 2015-16 season opens the following week at the Frys.com Open.
Doug Barron, who had not had a full PGA Tour card in three years, was suspended for one year in October 2009 for taking a substance to cope with low testosterone. His lawsuit against the tour was settled and he was granted a therapeutic use exemption the following year.
In January, Bhavik Patel on the Web.com Tour was suspended for taking a banned substance. Patel said he had a lapse in judgment.
Stallings is the first PGA Tour winner to be suspended. He has won three times in five years, most recently in 2014 at Torrey Pines. He lost in a four-man playoff at Torrey Pines this year, and then missed seven cuts in his next 12 events. He was at No. 101 in the FedEx Cup and No. 154 in the world ranking.
Stalling said his doctor recommended the supplement -- he told Golf Channel it was DHEA, which is offered over the counter -- that he took in December and January for chronic fatigue and "not in any way for performance enhancement."
He said he reported his violation as soon as he realized it was on the list of banned substances.
Under its policy, the tour is required only to confirm the suspension and for how long. The announcement that he was suspended was about five months after Stallings said he informed the tour of his violation.
Grand Slam moving
The PGA of America is moving its Grand Slam of Golf from Donald Trump's golf course in Los Angeles, the first significant fallout for golf from the Republican presidential candidate's comments on Mexican immigrants.
Trump and the PGA of America met Monday. Both groups said they mutually agreed not to hold the Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles on Oct. 19-21.
Trump said because of the backlash over his comments he does not want the PGA of America to deal with any consequences.
"I have great respect for the PGA of America and everything they stand for," Trump said in a statement.
The PGA Grand Slam is a 36-hole exhibition for the four major champions of the year. Jordan Spieth already has qualified by winning the Masters and U.S. Open. Martin Kaymer will be the alternate as the defending champion.
The PGA said it was exploring options on where to move the Grand Slam, along with its annual PGA Junior League Golf Championship that also was to be held at Trump National Los Angeles. The Grand Slam was in Bermuda from 2007 until last year.
Sports on 07/08/2015