‘Trophies are a blip in time … how you make somebody feel is more important’: Jordan Spieth launches junior golf tournament

Jordan Spieth is launching the “Crush It! Cup” in September, as the three-time major champion looks to leave behind a legacy beyond silverware.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes tracking him as he walks to the next tee, Jordan Spieth is not playing well, and he knows it. Once upon a time, an internal monologue of insecurity – ‘Man, I’m stinking today’ – would have been the soundtrack to the American’s march past the masses. These days, though, it’s an entirely different voice – one that leads him to pause at the ropes and make the day of one enraptured young fan. “I throw a few more golf balls out than I ever have … Not only does it make them happy, but it makes me happy,” Spieth told CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell. “It’s cool to see a kid smile. I’m like, ‘Man, if my son was out here, he wouldn’t care what that guy did on the previous hole or tournament. He just knows who he is for whatever reason and he wants a high five.’” Make no mistake, Spieth is as hungry as ever to continue populating his trophy cabinet, but fatherhood and Father Time have recalibrated the three-time major champion’s outlook. At 30 years old, Spieth is far from a veteran. Yet 11 years, 276 events and 13 wins into his PGA Tour career, the former world No. 1 already experienced and witnessed more than many golfers will in a lifetime.