Spieth became Team USA’s ‘crafty veteran’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kevin Chappell remembers being as nervous as he’s ever been as a Presidents Cup rookie in 2017. He cherished the chance to develop a more intimate relationship with his fellow teammates in the team room and learn what makes them tick.
“One thing I’ll always remember from that week is Jordan Spieth is the most mature person in every room he’s in, or at least that week he was,” Chappell said. “When he was talking, everybody was listening and taking notes. That’s something I could really pull from. His insight and demeanor is second to none. The guy was just unfazed.”
Spieth will be the first to say that wasn’t the case as a Presidents Cup rookie in 2013 at Muirfield Village.
Steve Stricker, who partnered with Spieth in the then 20-year-old’s debut representing Team USA in the pro ranks, carried the load as Spieth was out of several holes on the front nine. “Steve came up to me and said, ‘When are you finally going to start playing?’ ” Spieth recalled.
Moments such as that broke the tension and Spieth found his footing. He quickly has established himself as the backbone of America’s side.
“I’ll never forget Jordan in 2013 bopping into the team room on Monday with shorts and a T-shirt on and started throwing pingpong balls around. And my wife, Robin, said, ‘Who is that kid?’ I go, ‘That’s the future of our team right there,’ and he has been,” said U.S. captain Davis Love III.
Just four years, later, after the U.S. team had taken a joy ride on a boat along the Manhattan skyline, it was Spieth who brought the team back to the situation at hand during a team meeting.
“He said, ‘Hey, hey, this has been real fun celebrating,’ ” Love recalled. “He said, ‘We’ve got to get ready. This is going to be a tough match.’ From then on, guys have seen him kind of as a leader.”
For the first time since 1993, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won’t be involved as a player or a captain/assistant captain in international team competition. The new guard has taken over and the average age of the team is under 30 for the first time.
It’s hard to imagine that Spieth already is making his fourth Presidents Cup appearance, most of anyone on the team, despite being just 29 years old – and missing the last one in 2019 at Royal Melbourne in Australia.
“I was uncertain if or when I’d get back to these teams,” said Spieth, who was in the middle of his first slump of his career the last time the team match was held against a team representing the rest of the world except for Europe.
But Spieth rediscovered his game last season, winning the Valero Texas Open last April and made the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team. He qualified for the Presidents Cup 12-man team as an automatic pick and looks to continue upon his winning ways: 8-5-1 overall record, including 5-0 in foursomes. (His 0-3 singles record the one blemish on his Presidents Cup resume.)
“He’s always been able to get the team fired up with how he plays,” said Webb Simpson, an assistant captain for Team USA who has been a teammate of Spieth’s on past international teams. “Now, he’s more willing to speak up. That comes with age and experience. He’s really come into his own.”
When a reporter asked Spieth if he had become Team USA’s “crafty veteran,” Spieth replied, “I guess technically on this team but we’re giving that title to Kiz based on age,” noting that Kevin Kisner is nine years his senior.
“I get more excited than nervous now,” he continued. “I know how fun they are and the first tee jitters are something to embrace and enjoy.”
Spieth still circles back to his rookie appearance and the lesson he learned that day.
“When I start, I think, ‘Let’s just be like Strick that first round that I played,’ ” he said.
Spieth has come a long way from captain’s pick in 2013 to the most experienced player on the U.S side. Scottie Scheffler acknowledged that he may be PGA Tour Player of the Year and world No. 1, but when it comes to being a team leader and the voice of the locker room he’ll defer to Spieth.
“He’s been on many teams, so I think there’s certain guys where their voice holds a lot of weight,” Scheffler said. “Honestly, I couldn’t tell you if I’m one of them. I know that Jordan definitely is. He’s been around for a long time, and you’ve kind of got to earn your stripes.
“You can try to be a leader but it doesn’t matter unless people follow you. This is my first Presidents Cup. I may have had the best year on the course, but in a team environment, things are quite different.”