Nick Faldo believes Jordan Spieth's "very high golfing IQ" will allow him to contend for the Open Championship and third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam at St Andrews.
Spieth only arrived in Scotland on Monday afternoon following an overnight flight from Illinois, where he defeated Tom Gillis in a play-off to win the John Deere Classic for the second time in three years.
The 21-year-old's decision to compete in the United States ahead of the Open rather than contest the Scottish Open at Gullane or practise on links courses has been questioned by the likes of former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.
But six-time major winner Faldo - who won the second of his three Open titles at St Andrews 25 years ago - believes that will not hinder Spieth's chances of adding to his victories in the Masters and US Open.
"You can tell Jordan is happy with the way he's doing things because he has his own formula right now," Faldo said. "This is why he handles things so well.
"I don't think he's too worried about it. It's amazing, when you're that young, you'd say, one good night's sleep to get over jet-lag and he'll probably be fine (on Tuesday) morning, especially coming off a win. If he believes that's the way to do it, then that's the way to do it."
Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods are the only players in history to have won three majors in the same season. Hogan won the Masters and US Open in 1953 before a clash of dates meant he had to choose between the US PGA and the Open, opting to travel to Carnoustie and winning his sole Open title.
Woods won the US Open, Open and US PGA in 2000 before completing the 'Tiger Slam' at the 2001 Masters.
Spieth had played just one round at St Andrews before heading straight onto the Old Course on Monday, but Faldo believes the world number two can overcome such a perceived handicap.
"What he's doing is phenomenal," Faldo added. "Jordan has got this great ability - many people play practice rounds with him and the next day he'll be talking about the golf course and they'll have missed everything he's talking about, all the little subtle slopes.
"He's obviously got a very high golfing IQ and he takes a lot on board. When you're playing really well, if your caddie tells you where to land it, he's going to probably land it there. That is what they're enjoying at the moment. That's what I notice on television, how many shots are pin high that he hits.
"I think he'll be in there. I really do. He's playing too darned good and holing putts. When you keep seeing the golf ball go in the hole, it's a nice feeling."
Spieth will replace the absent Rory McIlroy as world number one if he wins on Sunday and insisted he had no doubts about his decision to play in the John Deere Classic - the first PGA Tour event he won as a 19-year-old in 2013.
"I really didn't care anyway," Spieth said after his triumph. "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."
Faldo had initially said this year's Open would be his last, but has since indicated he could play at Royal Troon next year.
The 57-year-old gave up competitive golf several years ago and admitted: "Yeah, even the rust is rusty. I had a decent session a couple of weeks ago at the Greenbrier, practised every morning, but then I've got TV (commentary) in the afternoons.
"It's quite a shock to go and play, like (on Sunday) we played in that left-to-right, 20mph wind. It's a real golf course. I've got to work very hard, as best I can, to feel good for Thursday."
