Golf enthusiasts have been aware of Jordan Spieth for some time.
The 20-year-old won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2011, becoming the first person since Tiger Woods to accomplish that feat. Over the past year his world ranking has skyrocketed, culminating in an incredible performance at the Masters, where his T-2 finish was the best ever by someone his age.
But for much of the general public, the tournament in Augusta served as an introduction to Spieth, who may well be the world's next golfing superstar.
So, just who is this kid from Dallas? He's humble, that's for sure.
A recent Sports Illustrated profile notes that even after banking $4 million in 23 starts in 2013, and signing lucrative deals with Titleist and Rolex, Spieth still drove a 2008 Yukon with 110,000 miles on it. His only splurge last year, according to the story, was on Dallas Cowboys season tickets.
Spieth is also marketable. And in a sport with few young American stars, advertisers will be tripping over themselves to sign him.
“At 20, he can attract a younger demographic to the game, and has a squeaky-clean image that traditionalists can get behind,” Bob Dorfman, executive creative director at Baker Street Advertising, told the Dallas Morning News. “Sure, it’d be nice if he had a little more charisma and uniqueness, but ‘20-year-old phenom’ will do just fine for now.”
And as for his future in the sport, it would be foolish to doubt Spieth after he's succeeded on every level. After his stellar amateur career, Spieth enrolled at Texas and led the Longhorns to the NCAA championship. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year and was a first team All-American.
Spieth turned pro at age 19 in December 2012, and in July 2013 he won the John Deere Classic, making him the youngest PGA Tour winner in 82 years. He was named 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after jumping more than 800 spots up the world rankings in the span of a few months.
Following a thrilling run at the Masters, in which he was leading eventual champion Bubba Watson on the final day, Spieth is a 25-to-1 favorite to win the U.S. Open.
As for Spieth's personal life, he is dating his high school sweetheart, Annie Verret. Here's why people are already calling her "stunning":
