Jordan Spieth is the Masters Champion at Age 21
Jordan Spieth amazed the world with his winning Masters performance last weekend. He set scoring records for 36 holes (130) and 54 holes (200), and shared the record for 72 holes (270) with Tiger Woods. His first round was the lowest start by a champion (64). Spieth also erased Michelson’s record of (25) birdies made in 2010 with an outstanding (28) number of birdies that continually found the center of the cup.
Spieth is a great example of a golfer with a successfully executed mental game. On his website he states, “My Dad told me growing up, ‘You’ve got to start setting goals.’ That’s been my philosophy, set goals and work hard, stay focused, and reach them as soon as possible. At each level, I always reevaluate my goals and establish new ones. I never want to become complacent, but always push myself further.”
Spieth received extra motivation from his runner-up finish to Bubba Watson in the 2014 Masters. He gave up a two shot lead with 11 holes left by playing too fast and losing his ability to control what was happening around him. In the last month he was runner-up in the Texas Open and then lost in a playoff at the Houston Open. ”So the combination of the two allowed me to keep my head down, not worry about anyone else in the field except myself and to play a golf course that is my favorite course in the world,” he said.
Jordan Spieth is an athlete who owns his confidence in his ability to compete with the world’s best golfers. When he was asked about the best part of his game, he said, “Playing badly well.”
How did he hold on to the tournament lead for four rounds?
Jordan Spieth’s mental game strength came from making a winning strategy, sticking to it, and trusting it for all four rounds.
His entourage consisted of having his friends stay at one house and his family at another house. The house rules were that no golf talk was allowed. There was to be no golf on TV when Jordan was present. Jordan’s time off the golf course was filled will fun games like basketball, cards and ping pong.
Holding the lead at the Masters in each round caused some sleeplessness and anxiety for Jordan as the tournament progressed, but he was determined to stay with his strategy which included:
- Stay in the moment
- Stay focused on course management
- Stay focused on where to put the ball, not on the golf swing
- Remain grateful to have another opportunity to win in the Masters
- Remain motivated to win this year after finishing 2nd last year
- Keep a “game face” no matter what the emotions are inside
- Don’t look at the scoreboard: “the more you focus on finishing, the harder it is to finish”
- Play as if it is a regular round of golf, have fun, joke, talk
In the Butler Cabin after receiving his green jacket, Jordan was asked what is next for him. His answer was, “I wanna be like Bubba and win two Masters.”
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