He idolises Adam Scott, draws inspiration from Rory McIlroy and now American young gun Jordan Spieth is plotting to trump both his golfing heroes to secure the Stonehaven Cup.
The 21-year-old Masters runner-up was chuffed to be paired with Scott for the first two rounds of the Australian Open on Thursday and Friday but he didn’t cross the globe to play second fiddle to anyone.
He’s done that twice already in 2014, most famously to Bubba Watson at Augusta, and admits it “stings a little bit” not to have parlayed his outstanding form into a win this year.
Bidding to remove Tiger Woods from a page in the history books as the youngest player to win the Masters, Spieth led by two midway through the final round before falling to Watson’s brilliant finish.
“Looking back, I take all positives from it,” Spieth said on Tuesday.
“That was something that was very different from being in contention at a PGA Tour event and the feeling was certainly different.”
Spieth also finished runner-up at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, contended at several other events and finished 17th at the US Open to climb into the world’s top 10 for the first time.
“It’s been an incredible year and one that it’s really nice to cap off here,” he said.
“I’ve got this event and then Tiger’s next week to finish 2014 and try and put an exclamation point on.”
To do so this week at The Australian, Spieth will need to upstage world No.1 McIlroy and third-ranked Scott, who last year staged a memorable Sunday duel before the Northern Irishman scuppered Scott’s Triple Crown hopes on the 72nd hole.
McIlroy’s victory at Royal Sydney was his first of the year and sparked the revival which culminated in a spectacular 2014 that yielded back-to-back majors at the British Open and US PGA.
“To see what Rory’s done, where he’s set the bar for the young generation with four majors already and double-digit worldwide victories, he’s the one that has set the bar for us,” Spieth said.
“So he’s the guy that we’re chasing. In order to beat him, we’re going to have to work harder than him and that’s difficult because he works extremely hard.
“That’s the goal. That’s the idea.”
Keeping up with Scott – and newly-crowned Masters champion Nick Cullen – in the opening two rounds is Spieth’s more immediate challenge.
“I’ve played a good amount with Adam now and always idolised his game and the way he conducts himself,” the American said.
“I was always a fan of him, not strictly for golf but also off the course.
“I’m very interested and excited to see it this week, especially on his home soil, with the crowds here. I can only imagine it.”
Scott, Spieth and Cullen open their championship bids just after midday on Thursday, while McIlroy will tee off in the morning wave in another marquee grouping also featuring Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Jones.
