Masters 2014: Jordan Spieth trusts in golf legends and a little sister

Jordan Spieth has not simply utilised the practice tee at Augusta National to hone his iron skills. The 20-year-old sought out veterans of the game, such as Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw, to seek insight into what detailed and specific qualities are required to win at venues such as this.
Earlier, he had chewed the fat with Jack Nicklaus. Spieth was neither intimidated nor cheeky; he has used the same approach time and again as he looks to become the best golfer he can possibly be.
To Spieth, that trio remain as Mr Watson, Mr Nicklaus and Mr Crenshaw. Watson will almost certainly have Spieth as part of his Ryder Cup team in September in Scotland, three years after he participated in a Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen as an amateur.
"Mr Crenshaw talked to me a lot about just the pull on the greens and just how you really need to watch out and keep an eye on where that 11th green, 12th green pins are located, not for the break of the greens but for the speed," Spieth said. "That's kind of the most important thing he said. The greens out here are really about understanding the speed of the putts, whether it's a four-footer or a 40-footer, because then you understand how quick or slow it's going to be.
"Then you can pick your line instead of like a lot of courses, where it's just outside right and firm; there's no such thing here. These guys are pretty good guys to learn something about the golf
course from."
As Spieth played himself into Masters contention, thereby endorsing the promise he had shown on the PGA Tour last season, there was evidence that he had listened carefully to such words of wisdom. Already this season, Spieth has played in the company of Tiger Woods and shot 63; there was no sense of fear on display whatsoever.
Whether veteran major winners or otherwise, few of those who have encountered Spieth have failed to be impressed. This is a young man with mannerisms and maturity way beyond his years.
"For a 20-year-old, he is pretty savvy," said Fred Couples, who has encountered a fair few golfing flashes-in-the-pan. "Not much bothers him."
Spieth's grounding has a basis in family reality. His younger sister, Ellie, was born prematurely and with special needs. The pair are extremely close, regardless of where Jordan's travels may take him.
On returning from tournaments, Spieth has brought his sister home a keyring as a memento. The player has also established his own charity, aimed at assisting those with special needs.
"My brother [Steven, who is a college basketball player] and I wouldn't be where we are today without Ellie," Spieth said. "She is seven years younger than me and was born so early that she almost passed away a couple of times when a baby but she pulled through it.
"She is far stronger than either of us and definitely funnier than either of us. I hear her supporting me all the time. If the crowd are roaring at a golf tournament, I still hear her voice over any other one.
"If I would come home upset at myself after playing badly somewhere, she would always be the first one there to come and give me a hug at baggage claim. That has always been extremely special and made everything else suddenly seem less important."
The theory that Spieth is a tournament rookie is slightly at odds with reality. He has been honing his putting skills with the experts at Scotty Cameron since he was 13.
In May 2010 a 16-year-old Spieth, a high school junior, played in and competed for the Byron Nelson Classic. "I'm going to start firing because I got nothing to lose, nothing to hold back," said Spieth at the time. He finished inside the top 20.
As a child in Dallas, Spieth was a pretty decent baseball player. He could readily have adopted that, rather than golf, as his pursuit of choice.
"Then I started to play a little bit less baseball and my golf swing got better," he explained.
"My mum wanted me to mow the lawn, we had lots of chores we wanted to do, so I decided I wanted to mow a little green and dug a little hole in it. Every morning before school I would go out there and hit chip shots into that green. If I pushed the ball I was on to the road and troubling cars so I had to be accurate.
"I broke 70 for the first time when I was 11. It was a 63. I realised then that this was a lot of fun and would like to do it more often. I switched to the instructor I have now and the rest is history."
With Tiger Woods's fitness open to long-term question, golf is seeking new heroes. Spieth fits the bill perfectly; and not only for the way he plays the game