Texas teen turns heads

May 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

IRVING, Texas

Jason Day was once hailed as the Tiger Woods of Australia, a kid who was going to tear up the PGA Tour.

It hasn’t exactly worked out that way. While he’s only 22, the wait for his breakthrough first victory that came Sunday at the Byron Nelson Championship was so excruciating that he considered finding a new line of work.

So, take it from him, what 16-year-old Jordan Spieth did at this tournament was “unreal.”

“He looks like he’s got all the game in the world,” Day said.

Spieth was within three strokes of the lead on the final nine holes Sunday, then drifted back into a tie for 16th.

It’s still an incredible finish for a kid who last week was playing in the state high school tournament.

He became the sixth-youngest player to make the cut on Tour, then said he was serious about wanting to win. When he shot 3-under Saturday, it wasn’t so farfetched.

Then came back-to-back bogeys early in the final round and a shot out of a fairway bunker that angered Spieth so much, he pulled back with his iron, ready to throw it at his bag.

But a deft chip led to a par putt. And then the kid turned everything around.

Three birdies and three near-misses left him standing on the 11th tee at 7 under while the leaders were at 10 under. Imagine what it would’ve been like had those three near-misses fallen.

A few holes later, he started backing up again — a bogey, then a double bogey. Yet he bounced back once more, too, with a birdie on the next hole and knocking his tee shot to the par-3 17th just 14 feet from the hole.

Alas, Spieth missed that putt and a par putt of about the same distance on No. 18 for a closing bogey. He walked off to a loud ovation, a handshake from playing partner Corey Pavin and a hug from Peggy Nelson, widow of the tournament’s namesake.

“It was awesome ... the entire round, the entire week,” Spieth said. “Starting the week, I definitely would’ve taken a top-20, in a heartbeat. Obviously now, looking back, being a competitor, I look back at the mistakes I made that didn’t give me an opportunity to win.”

Spieth, the reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champion, would’ve made $91,185.71 had he turned pro. But he’s planning to wait through another year of high school, then attend the University of Texas.

At least, that’s the plan right now.

“I wouldn’t say [this week] changed me fundamentally,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back out there and do it again.”

He’s already gotten a sponsor’s exemption to play in Memphis next month. First, he’ll play an American Junior Golf Association event in Arizona next week. Then he has finals.

Day began playing PGA Tour events at 18. He played 65 tournaments before finally winning one, but figures the experience was worth it, admitting he got a bit lazy after having success and money at a young age.

His advice for Spieth?

“Keep at it, keep learning, keep playing a lot of tournaments and try and win as many as you can,” he said.