Jordan Spieth :: A walking, talking golf lesson

It’s the oldest cliché in the book but it’s true: there are no shortcuts to the top. It’s a long, arduous climb, always under construction and flanked by those who never made it.

The rewards for getting there? Sure, they’re great, but they should never be the motivation to succeed. They should be an added bonus and nothing more.

Why did Jordan Spieth want to win the Masters? To be rich? To be famous? To get more Twitter followers? To make new ‘celebrity’ friends’?  To have people tell him how good he is and pat him on the back?

That pretty much sums up Jordan Spieth – class.

Not likely. Everything about the kid suggests that Jordan Spieth wanted to win the Masters because he wanted to win the Masters. Simple as that.

He’s level-headed, courteous and respectful. Did you notice how, in the Butler Cabin, he referred to Billy Payne as ‘Mr Chairman’? That was no accident. Neither was walking back out into the middle of the 18th green after embracing his family to applaud the crowd.

After his first round 64 on Thursday, he was asked about practising with ‘Ben’ earlier in the week and how much of a help that had been. He started to answer before stopping himself. “You’re talking about Mr Crenshaw, right?” he asked, checking he had the right guy and, at the same time, reinforcing his class.

And that pretty much sums up Jordan Spieth – class. He gets it.

CONTINUES BELOW…

He might be only 21 but he’s someone that every young golfer should be looking to emulate. Yes, by all means, aim to have a career like Tiger’s. But, just as equally, aim to be like Jordan. Remember who you are, what you do, and what you want to achieve.

If it’s fame and fortune you’re after, fine. But don’t then pretend to be ‘#alwayslearning’ or go looking for hollow adulation on social media after you’ve posted a career-best top ten finish on some fourth or fifth tier tour. Deep down, that stuff impresses nobody, no matter how many retweets you get.

Jordan Spieth is a terrific young guy, an exceptional young golfer, and a worthy role model.

If you want to be a success, though, take a leaf out Spieth’s book. Study what he has done up to now and copy it. It’s not complicated. It just takes graft. Lots and lots of graft. But since when did anything either good or worth having come easy?

Jordan Spieth is a terrific young guy, an exceptional young golfer, and a worthy role model and example to anyone who dreams of being a major winner.

He is, in short, a walking, talking golf lesson. Learn from him.

Jordan Spieth :: An example to all?

Do you agree with Michael McEwan that Masters champion Jordan Spieth is somebody that all young golfers should be looking to emulate? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor