20 things you need to know about Jordan Spieth

By Australian Golf Digest

1. His Family Is A Big Part Of His Success

Brother, Steven, averaged 10 points per game for Brown University’s basketball team last season. And younger sister, Ellie, is the heart of the family. Ellie, seven years younger than Jordan, has special needs which inspired Jordan to establish the Jordan Spieth Charitable Fund to raise awareness for, among other things, special-needs kids.

 

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2. His swing isn’t textbook, but it works – thanks in part to an Aussie coach

Spieth’s swing, in the words of coach Victorian native Cameron McCormick, is a classic example of “function over form.” He favours an unconventional variation of the overlapping grip, and the position of his left arm through impact isn’t something teachers would suggest you emulate. Except that it works.

Final prep done for the week! Really pumped for a change of pace and #matchplay

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3. He was destined for greatness
The Spieth family name can be translated to “successful” or “speedy” in Middle High German (an ancient form of the German language). Jordan is certainly rising high in the world of golf, ascending to the World No. 1 spot after his Tour Championship win.

4. His high school sweetheart is still by his side

Spieth and girlfriend Annie Verret have been together since high school, growing up in Dallas. Annie graduated from Texas Tech in the winter with honours and works now with the First Tee of Greater Dallas. Annie got some airtime last year while Spieth was contending at Augusta National, and has been with Jordan at the last Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Really proud of @annie_verret on an extremely successful college career! #shesgoodlooking #morehairthanme

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5. The thing Spieth disliked most about university was doing his own washing

Like any teenager going off to university, the cold reality of not having your parents around to help with the small stuff hit Spieth hard when arriving in Austin, Texas. “I definitely appreciate my mom a lot more, all the things she did that I’m having to do on my own,” Spieth said during his freshman year at Texas.

Victory Formation!!! On to Lambeau!

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6. His parents were both college athletes.

His father was a baseball player at Lehigh, and his mother was a basketball player at Moravian College.

7. The sport Spieth first fell in love with was … baseball.

Spieth says baseball was his sport of choice initially, but at age 13 he decided he needed to focus solely on his golf if he were to really reach his potential. “That was the hardest day of my life,” he said.

Perks of being with @underarmour .. Hanging out at the Nationals game!

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8. His One Weakness? He’s Losing His Hair

Spieth could be seen fidgeting with his hair before having to take off his hat at the end of a round. He’s clearly self-conscious about it. “There’s a reason I have a hairline like this,” he said about contending in tournaments. “It’s stressful what we do.”

Great night at the Buchanan wedding with @annie_verret and company #1019katiebrad

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9. He holed a bunker shot on the final hole of regulation at the 2013 John Deere Classic to get into a playoff, which he won.

That made him the first teenager to win on the US PGA Tour in 82 years.

10. He’s very popular among his peers.

After winning the 2015 Masters, Spieth got hugs from former green jacket winners Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson as he walked off 18. Then Twitter was flooded with congratulatory messages.

On the way to 1 at Pebble with team Owen. #prayforbirdies @barefootjake

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11. He just treated himself to a US$2.2 million house in Dallas.

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12. His caddie, Michael Greller, was a sixth-grade math teacher for 10 years who hooked up with Spieth at the 2011 U.S. Junior Am.

They won that, and the next year finished as low amateur at the US Open. They’ve been a pair ever since. Before working with Spieth, incidentally, Greller caddied at Chambers Bay, site of this year’s US Open – which Spieth won.

13. He missed his high school graduation because he was on the leader board at the 2011 Byron Nelson.

He shot 69-68 the first two days, and ended up T32.

14. His Under Armour contract runs through 2025.

Just a guess, but that company is probably pretty happy about that.

15. His career was catapulted by an ace.

He made a hole-in-one en route to a second place at the 2013 Puerto Rico Open, which got him into the field the next week at Tampa Bay, where another top 10 finish then earned his US PGA Tour card.

16. He’s one of only two people to ever win the US Junior Amateur more than once.

The other is Tiger Woods, who won it three times.

17. He’s been coached by one of us – born-and-raised Aussie Cameron McCormick – since he was 12 years old.

Cameron McCormick grew up sneaking onto the Melbourne Sandbelt courses to “get a feel of what it was like to be a tour player.” McCormick moved to Texas for a golf college scholarship and wound up being a teaching pro at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. Years later, a 12-year-old Spieth walked into his office and said, “I want to win the Masters when I’m older.” McCormick’s other famous student of the past is President George Walker Bush.

18. His putter is a Scotty Cameron by Titleist 009 model that he has had since he was 15 years old.

Spieth was drawn to the flat stick because two of his favorite golfers when he was growing up — Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy — used the same model.

Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS via G

19. He was No. 18 on the 2015 Golf Digest 50 money list.

But he’s likely to be right behind Woods, Mickelson, McIlroy and Palmer on the next list – the Masters, US Open and three US PGA Tour victories – plus the FedEx Cup bonus – have rocketed his 2015 earnings to AU$31 million.

20. He’ll be here in Australia in November

That’s right, the world No.1 is returning Down Under to defend his Australian Open title. Spieth lifted the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian last year with a blistering 8-udner par 63 in the final round to win by six shots.

Thanks for all the nice notes! Honored to be the #AusOpenGolf Champion! What a week in Sydney on and off the course.

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