Jordan Spieth in position to complete Grand Slam at PGA Championship | D'Angelo

TULSA, Okla. — Jordan Spieth's favorite place in the world when it comes to playing golf is Augusta National. But in April, after the Texan missed the Masters cut for the first time in his career, he could not get out fast enough.

Spieth was so frustrated he had no desire to watch the final round. In fact, he packed his clubs for a trip to Hilton Head, where he played golf with his agent and his caddie.

"It was annoying," Spieth said Wednesday. "Friday's round I shot 76 and I can't tell you that I missed a golf shot. It was bizarre. It was really frustrating because all you had to do that week was kind of make the cut and then you could have made a run on Saturday when it was cold.

"I just really didn't feel like I did much wrong and I've had weeks like that before. You just hope that they're not the Masters."

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At one time, winning the Masters would have been Spieth's one wish. It still is exhilarating but no longer tops his list. The PGA Championship, which opens Thursday, is the one title Spieth now is chasing to put him in the rarest of company when it comes to his profession, those who have completed the career Grand Slam.

"You feel like you kind of accomplished golf when you win a career Grand Slam," he said.

Spieth is looking to join an exclusive club that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Woods and Nicklaus have three career Grand Slams, having won each of the four majors at least three times.

Spieth's career Slam chase goes back to 2017

Spieth has been chasing the career Slam since winning The Open Championship in 2017. The closest he's come is finishing third at the 2019 PGA, six shots behind winner Brooks Koepka.

But if there ever was a year, this could be it. Not only is Spieth playing as well as he has in four years, he's more familiar with Southern Hills than most of the competitors. He grew up about four hours away in Dallas, and he continues to climb out of an inexplicable slump that lasted more than three years.

Spieth has one title (RBC Heritage) and one runner-up (last week's Byron Nelson) in his last two events and his world ranking has soared to No. 8, as high as it's been in four years. He was eighth following the 2018 PGA Championship.

Spieth, though, will not put additional pressure on himself when it comes to the PGA Championship.

"I think looking at it long term, thinking if I'm healthy, I'd look to have 20 chances at it," he said. "Maybe the bounces will go your way one of those weeks. I'm not trying to force it this week I guess is the best way to say it. Just try and do what I've been doing, stick to my routine, my game, block out any outside noise, and shoot as low a score as I can."

PGA's power threesome of Spieth, Woods, McIlroy

Ahh, the outside noise. Spieth is grouped with Tiger and Rory McIlroy, arguably the three most popular and recognized players in the sport, considering how Phil Mickelson is sabotaging his career. They tee off Thursday morning.

They were among the top four of the PGA's initial Player Impact Program standings with Tiger leading the way followed by Mickelson, McIlroy and Spieth. The PIP essentially measures a player's popularity through five criteria, including a social media component.

Now, all three will be standing on the tee boxes and greens at the same time for the first two days of the PGA Championship.

"I think you've got to embrace it and have fun and recognize these are the kind of pairings I'll get to tell my kid about some day," Spieth said.

The challenge will be blocking out the circus atmosphere that is sure to be following this Rock Star grouping.

"It has nothing to do with the two guys I'm playing with, it's everything that surrounds it," Spieth said. "You've got to wait longer for the crosswalks. When Tiger finishes out on a hole, there's going to be people leaving. There's just noise.

"You just know it's going to happen, and honestly if there's enough of it, it doesn't bother you. It's when it's super quiet and the one thing is yelled when you can flinch. Just it feels like a weekend round on Thursday, Friday I guess is kind of the best way to put it."

Tom D'Angelo is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at tdangelo@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jordan Spieth paired with Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy PGA  Championship