Jordan Spieth says he is a perfect example of what a young golfer can accomplish if given a chance. Two years ago, Spieth was given a sponsor exemption to play in the John Deere Classic near the Quad Cities. He returned last year as a 19-year old and posted his first PGA win by edging Zach Johnson and David Hearn in a playoff.
“Tournaments need to look at this even as an example, because opportunities were given to me like what I had in college, which was to come here and play and test my game against the best players in the world,” Spieth says. “And there’s no way that I win last year without that opportunity the year before.”
Spieth took the momentum gained from last year’s win and ran with it. He is currently fifth on the PGA money list this year with more than $3.3 million in earnings. He says he wouldn’t have been able to adjust so quickly without the starts he had at tournaments like John Deere.
Spieth says he still has a ways to go. He wants to be the top ranked golfer in the world someday and currently is 20th. He was also the runner-up at the Masters in April.
“I missed out on an opportunity to win the golf tournament that I dreamt about and I had the lead, and I know it was my first try and I know that that’s no normal to be in the position in your first try,” Spieth says. He says it was humbling to be in the position and not being able to pull it out.
Spieth will defend his title at nexth months John Deere Classic.