Forward Thinking
Jordan Spieth came into prominence in 2015 when he won two major golf championships and finished runner-up in another at the tender age of 22. But it is not serendipity that the American golfer is among the top names today. The Rolex ambassador has been chasing his dream of becoming a professional golfer since young and was even named Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2009 at age 16. But what does the future hold for Spieth?
How did you first come to play golf?
I hit toy clubs when I was little, but I truly enjoyed and played all sports. My interest and love in the game picked up when I was about 10, and I found myself using any and every excuse to go and hit balls. I started really taking it seriously when I was about 12.
Who have you taken inspiration from throughout your golfing career?
Definitely my parents—they were both collegiate athletes and that inspired me when I started taking sports more seriously. They pushed me to make goals and use hard work to achieve them. Throughout my golfing career, Arnold Palmer has always been someone I’ve admired greatly, in particular the way he carried himself both on and off the course. His example is one I really strive to emulate, and I hope to one day accomplish the type of things he did for the game of golf.
Having achieved so much in a relatively short space of time, what do you consider to be your personal highlight so far?
I would say the 2015 Masters sticks out as the most special highlight for me. Winning my first major championship is something I’ll never forget, as it was an ultimate dream of mine being realised in front of all my family and friends. The feeling of walking up the 18th fairway at Augusta National, knowing I was about to win my favourite tournament and be a Masters champion, was just incredibly surreal and special, to say the least.
What are your goals for the future?
On the course, my goal is to win more major championships. Off the course, we started the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation in 2013 and since then have provided support to more than 60 different community organisations. I’d love to continue that mission and grow our reach every year.