Jordan Spieth Returns To N.j., Where He Won U.S. Junior Amateur

Jordan Spieth, the No. 1 golfer in the world, returns to New Jersey, the same state where he won the USGA Junior Amateur in 2009. Two years later, he won the Junior Amateur again, joining Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win it twice. He was the top-ranked Junior Amateur after winning a second time in 2011.

Before the likeable Spieth played nine holes to test the track at Plainfield Country Club in Edison for The Barclays, which begins on Thursday, Spieth addressed the media.

When asked about returning to New Jersey, the state where he won his first U.S. championship, the Texan who won the Junior Amateur at Trump National-Bedminster, replied:

“Yeah, it's cool. Sometimes it seems like it was 20 years ago and sometimes it seems like it was yesterday. Just depends on the day.

“I remember specific holes on both the courses we played, the Old and the New. I remember specific shots I hit, who I played. I had my round of 32, I went to extra holes. I went to 17 a couple times. Just it was a really neat experience, and it was really the first time I had ever played golf in New Jersey, coming up here to play. I know, what is it, it's about 20 minutes from here, isn't it? So this is as close as I've been back to there

“Yeah, we had great fans that week. For being a junior golf event, there was a great showing. Shows the knowledge of the sport in this state, and I'm interested to see this week the following we get. Should be pretty fun being paired with Jason and Bubba.”

He remembers thinking about someday becoming No. 1 as a junior and thinking about what it would take to be No. 1 in the world.

“ I remember thinking to myself: If I can get to No. 1 in the junior rankings, these are the guys that I'll be playing against in amateur golf -- if I can get to No. 1 in the amateur rankings someday, I'll be ready to move on and try to take it professionally.

“Obviously the competition broadens. You're not playing against the same guys you were in junior golf but eventually those guys are the guys that are your age out there and you've beat them before and so you can do it professionally,” Spieth noted

“I came out and the guys that I've been playing against were not the guys I was playing junior or amateur golf with for the most part. Just had that belief that if you could do it at each level, then that's when I knew I was ready to turn professional is when I reached that in the amateur rankings, and then just took it out here, and obviously the rise was quicker than I may be imagined.

But it was something on my mind. I remember saying it after that junior when I was 15 turning 16.”

Spieth, 22, has been a sensation this year, winning The Masters and the U.S. Open, as well as two other championships. He was runner-up at the PGA Championship and tied for fourth at the British Open. He said it’s time to pull back a little and same some strength for a strong finish.

“it's been a fantastic year. We've gone about our business the way we wanted to, and you know, after the major season is over, which is where we wanted to peak, and now honestly, we've sat back over the last week and said, how can we get that same kind of momentum to where we can try and peak for THE TOUR Championship,” said Spieth, who played at the University of Texas.

“So I'm going to try and -- it's been a long year, so limited reps. Not taking it as heavy in the gym. Not hitting the same amount of balls, trying to get myself as much strength through the Playoffs as possible. Last year I wore myself out a bit. We did four straight weeks versus a week off here. Yeah, I could still play my best golf, taking it a little easier, given the amount of time we've put in throughout the year.

“So this past week was just about getting rest, getting hydrated, getting healthy, and then kind of getting right back into it throughout the weekend into the beginning of this week, kind of ramp up the practice a little bit more and I'll continue to kind of have a little bit of rest at the beginnings of the weeks and then bring it back up to try and peak each weekend, and eventually trying to get everything ready for Atlanta (East Lake).”

Next year, Spieth hopes to represent the United States in the Olympics.

“If I were to make that team, that would be incredible. I mean, when I was really young, I always thought of the people that walked in the opening -- the Olympians that walked in the Opening Ceremonies, it was like you were the greatest-athletes-in-the-world type of thing. And once I chose golf or once I realized I certainly wasn't going to be there for any other sport, I didn't think it would ever be a reality. But it's still obviously the most-watched sporting event in the world.

“And so I thought that the interest is so high, and to be able to be one of those athletes and do something, I would never forget that ceremony and that walk; walking with the American flag there, it will be -- it will be awesome if I can make that team.”

One reporter asked Spieth how his demeanor on the course is so different from the cool, detached image of Tiger Woods, who is part of a golf generation just ahead of Spieth.

“First off, I'll offer a slight insight; that as far as I've dealt with Tiger, that's not the impact that it has with us. It may come across that way via camera, but he's been nothing but respectful to me when I've played with him.

“Yeah, extremely competitive like you said but not standoffish. Just very passionate about his own game and very (deep) in his own game and very confident in his own game, and I think you need that to be successful,” Spieth surmised.