“I haven’t done anything yet. I have to prove myself.” Jordan Spieth expressed his readiness during a practice round at the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open, his debut event. He transitioned from college golf at the University of Texas to the PGA Tour. At only 19 years old, he was coming off a successful amateur career. The young golfer had just battled through the second stage of PGA Tour Q-School at TPC Craig Ranch, finishing T-26, three shots shy of advancing to the final stage. It was a narrow miss, but it set the stage for a bold leap into the pro ranks.
Tasting the wins early, he has worked with his swing coach, Cameron McCormick, since he was just 12 years old. Over the years, McCormick has had a front-row seat to Spieth’s development as a golfer. Recently, the coach reflected on the surprising determination Spieth showed even as a young athlete.
Recently, Jordan Spieth’s swing coach, Cameron McCormick, was with James on the Top 100 Golf Courses YouTube channel. McCormick dived into his experience of how he felt about coaching the Golden Boy. He said, “I was coaching at the time a couple of players that played in the Korn Ferry Tour, so Jordan wasn’t the best player that I’d seen on day one, where they were the first time I saw him nor the second time I saw him, but he was very good as a 12-13 year old.”
The coach delved into the details of skills of Spieth and talked about a certain tournament. He said, “How good was he two weeks prior to us meeting? He’d shot 63 in a tournament, 8 under par in one round of golf, and that was a three-round tournament. He won the tournament by 18 shots, so he was very good.” Although Spieth was talented, he was motivated and caught his coach off guard with a bold request.
“So day one, he demonstrated that wisdom beyond his years as he sat in front of me and said Here’s where I’m at, and here’s what I want to get to,” added McCormick. Can you guess what he wanted? “He literally sat there and said I want to win the Masters and I mean, I didn’t gulp out loud, but I’m like, wow, that’s a bold objective for a 12-year-old to express to the coach,” revealed the coach. At such a young age! Through a long-term focus, Jordan Spieth was able to achieve his dream in 2015 after he won the green jacket. Not only that, he has played a total of 11 masters and has had top-5 finishes in five of them. Although the 31-year-old missed the cut this year at Augusta National, his legacy remains strong.
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Cameron McCormick began coaching in 1998, bringing years of experience that proved invaluable to a young Jordan Spieth. Reflecting on their first lesson, Spieth once said, “The date that my life changed, I guess.” “Before, he wanted to see me hit shots, he wanted to know who I am, what my goals are, I thought that he was so passionate about (teaching) that we could continue to grow together,” he added. McCormick indeed helped Jordan Spieth navigate his career. However, as time passes, it seems the golfer’s priorities have changed.
Jordan Spieth is focusing more on fatherhood
When they started working together, McCormick quickly spotted areas to tweak in Spieth’s swing. Ahead of the 2015 British Open at St. Andrews, they honed his game plan, focusing on lag putting and mastering the course’s quirks to keep Spieth sharp and ready. These days, while Spieth still brings intensity to the course, life off the green has taken on new meaning.
Earlier this month, during the Masters, Spieth was incredibly happy when he talked about his children. To dive into the story he started with, “You know, 10 years have gone by, I’ve had ups and downs, peaks and valleys of a career from then,” reflecting on his first and last Masters win in 2015. However, six years after that, a lot has changed in Jordan Spieth’s life. He became a father back in 2021 and now cherishes the moments he gets to share with his kids on and off the field.
“I’ve got a couple-little kids, another one on the way, and, you know, so obviously, perspectives change, what priorities change in the course of life. I get to have my son and daughter out on the par-three tomorrow… It’s just forever till I have kids out here,” added Spieth. Highlighting that he and his wife are expecting their third child in July, he is certainly happy about it.
What do you think about the priority shift in Jordan Spieth’s life? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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