The majority of 2014 will inevitably be remembered for the performances of Rory McIlroy. But the last month-and-a-bit of the year belonged to an even younger man, 21-year-old American Jordan Spieth.
After emerging from the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles as one of the few Americans with a winning record, the two-time US Junior Champion and former World No.1 amateur lifted the Australian Open title with a closing round of 63, then just a week later in Florida he claimed the Hero World Challenge over a world-class field by an incredible 10 shots.
But there is more to Spieth than golf. The older brother of a sister, Ellie, who has special challenges in life, he owns a perspective broader than many men twice his age. Golf World sat down with Jordan to chat about the game that has made him rich and famous and the family that keeps him humble.
GW: Here you are, one of the best players in the world, yet your statistics would suggest there isn’t a part of your game that stands out from your competition – care to explain?
JS: I know it looks that way. But I feel like my game has improved in every aspect each year I’ve been on Tour. Plus, as we all know, golf is all about getting the ball in the hole. I do that pretty well. Take this year. My putting’s improved a lot, so I’ve been a lot more consistent with my scoring. I take that sort of question as a compliment though. People always ask me what part of my game stands out and I can never give them a definitive answer. I go through months where certain parts of my game are right on. And I peak for certain rounds and certain tournaments. Plus, I can hold the bad rounds together because nothing gets too far off.
So where is your game right now, versus guys like Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott, those you are going to have to beat if you are to fulfill your potential?
I need to drive the ball better to reach the next level. My ball-striking, short game and course management has all improved. But my driving is not quite on that level, not consistently. So my best weeks tend to coincide with when I drive well. Some guys can do well without driving great, but right now I’m not one of those. Put me in the fairway and my strengths come into play. My course management is nearly always good, so I know when to take on certain hole locations and when not to. At tour level you have to think your way through courses. I aim for a maximum of one or two over-par holes per day. If I do that, my birdies – one of my better stats – will take care of the rest. I know most people tend to break down rounds in terms of shots or holes, but that isn’t how I think of it. I’ll do whatever it takes to limit myself to one or two bogeys. Then my four or five or six birdies will mean I shoot a low score. And if I do that, everything else takes care of itself.
A lot of people have certainly commented on how smart your play is, especially for one as young as you still are. Your progress has certainly been pretty rapid. Is that something you think of much?
Not much. But when I do, I think of how I compare with the true greats when they were the age I am now. Look at Tiger. He set the bar for all of us. And Rory is starting to do something similar. He is only four years older than me and already he has four major victories. He’s a guy that I can look at. I’m pleased with how far I’ve come in the last two years though. But I still feel like I’m progressing on an average course compared with where Rory has been and where he is now. But I have four years to catch up, if that makes sense. That’s the way I look at it; I have to keep improving if I want to get to the level I want to reach. But I’m not there yet. Not even close. I’m working really hard on my putting. No one has ever done that perfectly. But what I do know is how you putt on every hole determines how happy or unhappy you are walking to the next tee, so it’s worth working on. My wedge play, which is the third important component in scoring well, feels good right now.