Still moving needle, Jordan Spieth aims to conquer inconsistency, secure career grand slam at PGA Championship

Consistency -- as is expected with Spieth -- has been the culprit.

"If you look at the stats, yeah, it's a whack-a-mole situation," Spieth said. "Because I have had weeks where I'm leading in putting, weeks where I've leading in driving, weeks where I am leading in ball-striking, and then I just haven't been able to kind of put them all together, at least … haven't been able to lean on something on an off-day and not have something be a negative strokes that throws me out of a chance on any of those categories, right?

"So, the good news is, within this season, I've been able to lead in each, so I should be confident that I have at least each part of the game as a weapon. It's just focusing on the right things, putting it together, limiting the mistakes, and then when something feels a little bit off, managing to be able to shoot a couple under par versus a couple over par. It's pushing the low ones just a couple strokes lower and limiting the bad ones by a stroke or two. If I can shave off a stroke a round like anybody would like to, it's a big difference. But I think it's a little simpler for me this year than it has been in other years to feel like I could do that."

Major championships tend to test a player's floor. Windows open during the competition. Big par saves are required to stay afloat. Strategic thinking is more required to ensure one's dreams are not dashed. For as much fun as it is to watch players rattle off birdies and go on scoring tears, it's the other side of the equation that is often the answer to their prayers.

Spieth has shown the ceiling is still high in individual rounds, such as the one that shot him into contention at the Cadillac Championship, but he has not shown that the floor has been restored to what it was a decade ago. This week, he'll have no choice but to find that footing.

He'll be put in spots of bother, spots that would make even Houdini himself uncomfortable. Aronimink will do that to players.

But not all players are like Spieth. There has been no better escape artist in golf over the last year.

With escape artists, though, it can go either way: It can end in amazement or horror.

No matter which, though, you'll buy a ticket for the show and have your eyes glued to Spieth when he's on the big stage.