WHEN Jordan Spieth steps onto the first tee this morning, few will be hoping he can defend his Australian Open title more than Jackson Rogan.
Spieth will return to the scene of his 2014 triumph at the Australian Golf Club, Rosebery, having experienced one of the most extraordinary years possible as a pro golfer.
The 22-year-old Texan became the second youngest winner of The Masters, won the US Open at Chambers Bay as well as the season-long FedEx Cup and in doing so became the number one player in the world.
Rewind 12 months, and it was his victory in Sydney that helped build the momentum for his all-conquering year.
The galleries have their own memories of Spieth at last year’s tournament, as he dazzled and astonished in equal measure on his way to a six-shot victory.
But Jackson, 16, has his own special memory of Spieth at The Australian Open; it involved a chat, a walk and a putting lesson.
‘‘I turned up early on the first morning and was watching Jordan and Adam Scott warm up on the practice range,’’ Jackson said.
‘‘He was just walking off the range and I asked him if I could have his autograph.
‘‘He said ‘sure, walk with me.’
‘‘I got his autograph and he started asking me a few questions like how old I was, what I play off and where I play at.’’
But it got even better for the Cronulla and Woolooware member when they arrived at the practice putting green.
‘‘[Spieth] said to me ‘do you want to hit a few putts?’,’’ Jackson said.
‘‘So I just hit a few putts and he gave me a bit of a putting lesson.
‘‘It was pretty cool.’’
Jackson, who plays off a handicap of six, said Spieth had only affirmed his place as his favourite player.
‘‘I watched him hit a few putts first. I didn’t know what to do,’’ he said.
‘‘He just said I had a nice stroke and to keep going.
‘‘He did mention [his no-look putting style]. I don’t know how he does it.
‘‘He was up there [as my favourite player] before this.
‘‘He’ll always be up there.’’
Jackson’s coach at The Ridge Golf Club Glenn Whittle said Spieth was a golfer for young players to aspire to, on and off the course.
‘‘Every kid in any sport needs role models,’’ he said.
‘‘They need the best of the best to look up to.
‘‘Jackson’s got Jordan Spieth and kids need to aspire to these champions.
‘‘Spieth is a great role model for these kids.
‘‘The way he acts, the way he speaks and the way he carries himself.’’
SHIRE QUARTET
Kareela’s Aron Price, Cronulla’s Scott Arnold and shire brothers Matt and Brett Jones will tee up for the 100th Australian Open starting at the Australian Golf Club, Rosebery, this morning.
It has been a stellar year for Matt Jones, 35, who has had a string of strong performances, including a tie for fourth at the Deutsche Bank Championship in the FedEx Cup play-offs.
He was also the 36-hole leader at the US PGA Championship, eventually won by Jason Day.
The world No.65 will vie for the Stonehaven Cup alongside older brother Brett, who’ll make his Open debut at 40.
They will join defending champion and world No.1 Jordan Spieth, former world No.1’s Adam Scott and Lee Westwood, President’s Cup pair Marc Leishman and Steve Bowditch, 2011 Open Championship winner Darren Clarke and last week’s Australian Masters champion Peter Senior in a strong field.
