Jordan Spieth is definitely not your average 23 year old golfer/adult trying to find his feet in whatever walk of life they have chosen.
Jordan Spieth has achieved so much in his four full seasons on tour that other golfers can only dream of accomplishing in their entire career.
Jordan however is not the only one from his family to achieve in sports as he comes from an athletic family. He was born in 1993 to his father, Shawn Spieth who played baseball at Lehigh University and his mom, Chris Spieth who played basketball at Moravian College.
Jordan's younger brother, Steven Spieth is carving his own niche and has been an outstanding player for Brown University. He is expected to make the step up to the NBA ranks very soon.
Growing up, baseball was Spieth's first love and he was a left hand pitcher but at age 12, he decided to concentrate on Golf. He did not waste any time in producing the results and became only the second person tio win two US Amateur Junior Championships, other being Tiger Woods.
He featured on the American Junior Golf Association all-American team three times and at age 16, while still a high school junior at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, he was invited to play his first event on the PGA Tour at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
That was really the first time his name came in to the limelight as he contended for majority of the tournament before finishing in a very respectable tied-16th.
Continuing to make a name for himself, he played an instrumental role with an undefeated record for the victorious 2011 US Walker cup team as a 17 year old.
Upon graduation from high school at Jesuit, he enrolled at the University of Texas where he helped the university team to the 2012 NCAA team championship in his freshman year.
He subsequently was named on the All-American first team. In 2013, during his sophomore year, he decided to turn pro and played his way on to the PGA Tour.
He made enough money in the events where he was exempt in the early part of the season courtesy of high finishes such as the T-2nd at the Puerto Rico Classic and T-7th at the Tampa Bay championship.
Later in the year, he achieved the unexpected and won at the John Deere Classic becoming the youngest winner on tour in 82 years. He continued to produce consistent performances and finished the year ranked 7th in the FedEx Cup.
As a result of his stellar performances, he earned a captain's pick for the United States Presidents Cup team and became the youngest ever player to play in the event.
Also Read: SSP Chawrasia is no longer only a king in his own backyard
If that did not solidify Spieth's status as the new rising star, his unanimous election as the Rookie of the Year for 2013 all but put remaining doubts to bed.
Just 20 years old, Jordan Spieth was already playing his second season on the PGA Tour in 2014.
He continued right where he left off in 2013 and put in strong showings. He recorded eight top ten finishes with two runner up finishes which included an unimaginable runner up finsh at the Masters in what was his debut at Augusta National.
He also recorded a T-5 finish at the Players championship and once again became the youngest player to earn a call-up to the United States Ryder Cup team.
The end of the year was nothing short of a fairy-tale as he went on to record back-to back victories. He shot an eye-opening 8-under 63 at the very challenging layout of the Australia Golf club in the final round of the Emirates Australian Open.
If that wasn't enough, he went on to dominate in a ten-shot victory over a strong field at the Hero World challenge.
Enter 2015 and Jordan Spieth embarked on a season which turned out to be a golden season, a season which is definitely up there as part of one of the best seasons enjoyed by any player.
He accumulated five victories and fifteen top tens in total. After winning the Valspar Championship in March, he broke several records en route to becoming the second youngest player ever to win the Masters.
He now holds the lowest 36-hole record, 54-hole record, most birdies(26) in 72 holes and joint 72-hole scoring record at any major championship. He followed up with a remarkable victory at the US Open and in the process, became the youngest ever to hold the first-two legs of major championships at 21 years old.
He finished T-4th at the Open championship at the Old Course in St. Andrews after he came up one shot shy of entering the play-off. He finished as runner-up to Jason Day who played flawless golf over 72 holes at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
He won at the John Deere Classic for the second time in his career. Still unfinished, he went on to win the Tour Championship, his fith win of the season and also captured the FedEx Cup. Jordan finished the year at the pinnacle of the world golf rankings and was the Players' Player of the year for 2015.
Considering what he achieved in 2015, which could arguably be the best season played in modern day Golf, it was easy to predict that Jordan would struggle to repeat a season like that in 2016.
You have to pay fair dues to Jordan for notching up 8 top 10's including 2 wins, 1 runner up finish and a third place finish in 21 events so far this season. Give those statistics to Jordan at the beginning of the year and he would have happily taken it.
He won his first event of the season at the Hyundai tournament of Champions but then cooled off until the Masters where he was in position A until his back nine horror show on Sunday.
He got rid of the demons of his famous meltdown at the Masters by winning the Dean & Deluca Invitational which also marked his first victory in his home state of Texas.
“I had a little red-ass in me and it came out in the next few holes,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get over the hurdle, of having to come into every interview room, having to listen to the crowds, talking only about what happened a month ago. I’m 22 and we’ve won two majors. But it’s very difficult to stay present, to stay positive, when that’s happening, when those are the only questions. So in our third tournament coming back to close this one out the way we did is really, really special”, Jordan said.
Jordan Spieth is a once in a century phenomenon and what he has achieved before the age of 23 is scary good. The man turns in performances week in-week out; his belief and an inner confidence in his preparation is what is behind those performances.
Jordan Spieth is revolutionizing putting as a gamechanging element in his game. Whenver he needs to find that extra gear, you will see him drop clutch putts under pressure no matter what lays on the line.
He plays a brand of Golf that only you could say, Patrick Reed plays during his best weeks at the very most. He is rock solid throughout his game and has no strengths or weaknesses that stand out.
Also Read:The incredible rise of Alex Noren: From 108th four months ago to now in the top 10 of the world
The Dallas, Texas native is consistent from tee-to-green and can drain putts from anywhere on the greens. He has an exceptional golfing IQ that allows him to analyse and study golf courses in an unprecedented manner.
Spieth plots his way around the course spectacularly and seldom fails to execute his game plan. He has the ability to step up to the occasion at big events even when he's not playing his best golf and grind out results.
He is a part of the new breed of golfers on the PGA Tour who play fearless golf and expect a lot out of themselves. The way Jordan describes his rounds during interviews gives us a very good insight into his thought process on the golf course and his razor-sharp focus over every shot is what gives him that killer instinct.
Jordan Spieth also has an innate knack to be competitive and his association with Under Armour is a testament. Under Armour is known to endorse athletes who are at the top of the pyramid in their sports.
Jordan Spieth has been able to benefit through interactions with fellow Under Armour atheletes and his friendship with Golden State Warriors's guard Stephen Curry is a well documented one.
Jordan is an extremely likable person to fans as well as fellow players, his drive and hunger to win and be the best is inspiring young kids to get into the game more than ever before.
Jordan has set up the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation as a charitable endeavour that focuses on providing financial assistance and a platform to children with special needs, military families and junior golf programs.
His younger sister, Elie who was born with a genetic disorder is his biggest inspiration according to him. He says looking at his special sister and how she fights her battles is what drives him to be better.
Jordan Spieth was ranked the ninth-most paid athlete in all sports in 2016 and has $20.8 million in prize winnings already. He has made another $32 million through endorsements, not bad at all for a 23 year-old.
Also Read: The legend of Arnold Palmer
Expect Jordan Spieth to end the year in style as he says he feels as refreshed as he has ever and is ready to mount a charge at the Australian Open this week.
"I feel very fresh. I feel as strong and healthy as I've felt ... probably ever to be honest," he told the Australian Associated Press during a practice round at Royal. Sydney on Monday. It was "really nice taking a few weeks off, just training and only start getting back into golf the last couple weeks. Really trying to make it an off season."
Australians Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, defending champion Matt Jones and Aaron Baddeley will be part of the local contingent that Spieth will be playing against.
