Autistic sister gives Masters champion Jordan Spieth perspective
AUGUSTA, Ga. (Christian Examiner) – New Masters champion Jordan Spieth said in his post-play interview "there was no need for crazy celebrations," and without pausing the 21-year-old explained his levelheadedness in terms of how his autistic sister was going to react to his tournament win.
"[S]he's going to probably tell me to just bring something home, bring a present home to her," the 21-year old Dallas golfer laughed. "I'm sure she was watching and was excited ... . Probably got a little jealous at that point. But she's just going to be happy that I won."
The second youngest player ever – by almost six months -- to win the green jacket, behind only Tiger Woods' 1997 effort, Spieth is just the fifth golfer to lead the tournament from start to finish.
Spieth won the tournament, and many new fans, with an 18 under par score, but he won the hearts of many because of the deep love he expressed for his family -- especially 14-year-old Ellie.
She provides perspective, he told reporters.
"Being Ellie's brother humbles me every day of my life," Spieth says at Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.
Spieth created the Spieth Charitable Trust in 2014 to lend awareness and financial support to three areas of concern, special needs youth, military families, and junior golf.
The Texan turned pro after two years at the University of Texas. He won the John Deere Classic last year, becoming the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1931 and the fourth player under 20 to win on the tour since 1900. He tied for second in the FedExCup finale at East Lake in Atlanta.
Speith attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas.
His grandfather, Donald Spieth, a renowned orchestra director in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, told a local newspaper he is proud of his grandson.The elder Spieth is artist-in-residence in music at Moravian College in Bethlehem.
"It's a given I am proud about how he played golf, but I'm so proud of him as a young man and how he's shown himself and his relationships to his family, to friends, to other professionals, to the press. He's just a good kid," Donald said.
His father told Golf Digest ahead of the Masters Spieth knows his worth, green jacket or none.
"If Jordan doesn't ever become No 1, he'll know that's only a piece of life," Shawn told Golf Digest. "Not all of life."