“I feel like I have years that — how old was Phil [Mickelson] when he won his first major? 34?
“There are plenty of examples where guys have played their best golf from there on.
“I’m always comparing myself a bit to myself at my best, but I am not trying to be the exact player.
“It’s more to remind myself that I can do it. I know my ceiling is where that level was, and so I’m going to strive for it with the type of player that I am now.”
Spieth’s record since winning The 146th Open is far from unimpressive.
In majors, he has seven top-10 finishes, including a runners-up finish to Collin Morikawa at Royal St George’s five years ago.
He always draws a crowd and has been placed in a marquee group with Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm for the first two rounds.
Spieth missed last week’s Scottish Open in order to get to Royal Birkdale early.
With a spectacular new par-3, a long par-5 and alterations to the world-famous 18th, there is much to learn.
But some things always remain the same.
“I really was looking forward to going to the 18th green again,” he said.
“Winning The Open was a significant highlight of my life.
“It’s arguably the best tournament in the world and the greatest trophy in the world to attain.
“So on the list of goals, it was right up there at the top.
“Being on that green is where that happened, and I was really looking forward to getting back, walking back down 18 and reliving what it was like to walk the 18th hole at The Open.
“It is the most unique finishing walk in golf. To have those memories and be able to walk up there again was really special.”