What you don’t know about Jordan Spieth, sport’s newest superstar

NO ONE has dominated golf’s biggest event like this at this age since Tiger Woods. Who is Jordan Spieth and where did he come from?

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 12: Jordan Spieth of the United States makes birdie on the third green during the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

A 21-YEAR-OLD Texan has become the new face of golf.

Dallas native Jordan Spieth cruised to victory at the Masters, shooting an astounding 18 under par to finish four shots clear of Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.

Spieth became the second-youngest player ever to win the famed tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

He dons the green jacket at 21 years, eight months and 16 days old — slightly older than Tiger Woods when he won it in 1997 at 21 years, three months and 14 days.

Jordan Spieth, 4, practicing his swing just months after Tiger won the 1997 Masters pic.twitter.com/Y5TxrCzDXL

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 12, 2015

But practice wasn’t always perfect for Spieth, who as a boy spent hours chipping golf balls in the family’s makeshift putting green. “We had a couple of broken windows,” his dad, Shawn Spieth, told the Toronto Star.

Growing up, life couldn’t have been much sweeter for Spieth, who attended elite Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas. He’s still dating his high-school sweetheart Annie Verret, a prize catch herself. The girl-next-door beauty graduated with honours from Texas Tech.

He’s also blessed with superior athletic genes. His dad played baseball at Lehigh University, and mum was a basketball player at Moravian College, both in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The family’s middle child, Steven, is a 198cm guard on the Brown University basketball team.

But the most inspiring female in Spieth’s life might be his 14-year-old special-needs sister, Ellie, who was born with a neurological disorder.

“Jordan wouldn’t be where he’s at today if he didn’t grow up with Ellie,” mom Christine Spieth told ESPN. Jordan keeps in close touch with Ellie, and buys her souvenir key chains from every town in which he plays.

“Growing up with Ellie has helped Jordan and (his brother) Steven to have that quality of not being self-centred,” his dad Shawn told the Sunday Times of London. “If Jordan doesn’t ever become No. 1, he’ll know that’s only a piece of life, not all of life.”

The young golfer has already established his own charity dedicated to military families, helping poor kids get a shot at golf and helping special-needs youth like Ellie.

Spieth turned pro three semesters into attending the University of Texas but is no overnight sensation. He was the PGA’s 2013 rookie of the year, raking in $3.8 million in prize money. He followed up with a jinx-free sophomore campaign, winning $4.3 million.

By winning today, Spieth took home $1.8 million — after already pocketing $3.1 million this season.

Spieth's career earnings will now be $14,230,915, just outside the PGA Tour career top 100, after only 60 events.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 12, 2015

$237,182: Jordan Spieth's per tournament average winnings in his first 60 events as a PGA Tour pro

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 12, 2015

Originally published as What you don’t know about Jordan Spieth, sport’s newest superstar