2015 Masters Winner & His Championship Mom

By: Nancy Berkley

As a Masters fan, a female golfer and particularly as a mother myself, I want to give some credit where credit is due. And, it's to Jordan Spieth's mom, Chris Spieth. Yes, this is a "soft" article, with no mention of yardages, critical club selections or pressure-packed putts.

Reporters love to quote male golfers talking about their dads. And, it's true that many golfers were introduced to the game by their fathers. But what TV viewers saw as Jordan walked off the 18th green as the 2015 Masters champion was the relationship between a son and his mother.

We don't see that very often because most male golf champions are older than Jordan. They have their wives to kiss and babies to hold. And although his long-time girlfriend, Annie Verret, was at the edge of the green, Jordan's immediate family came first - at least for now.

First there was a hug with dad Shawn and then a hug with his teary mom. And last, but not least, an embrace with his grandfather Bob. Young Spieth then started on his way up the path to the scoring cabin. But his mom stopped him and pointed to his left. I could imagine her saying, "There are your friends, stop for them."

And, after a rousing round of high-fives with his buddies, he stepped back onto the path and continued walking to the scoring area. The CBS camera picked up Jordan and his dad walking and then his mom joining them and putting her arm around her son and the three walking together. You just don't see that very often on televised golf tournaments.

I'm wondering whether Chris was the one who told Jordan to cover his mouth when talking to his caddie on the 18th green so that his conversation could not be translated by lip-readers. I'm wondering how many late dinners she kept warm. Or, how many pep talks she may have given Jordan about victory, defeat, dedication and staying focused. As an accomplished athlete herself, she knew what lessons to teach.

And personally, I marvel at how Chris Spieth managed the details and logistics of helping her two sons follow their athletic careers (her other son, 6'6" Steven, is basketball player at Brown University). At the same time - along with her husband - she manages the care of a 14-year-old daughter with special needs, Ellie, who didn't make it to Augusta and was home in Dallas.

The game of golf has taken a beating for taking up too many hours, costing too much and being too difficult for neophytes. After all, how can parents coach their kid's soccer and baseball teams on weekends and find time to play golf as well?

That's really the wrong question. The right question is: How can we teach family values - not ballfield values - to our children? The answer is: Introduce golf to your family early and play often. That's the best way to grow the game in the U.S. - from the bottom up. And here's to all the moms who will make it happen.

Nancy Berkley, President of Berkley Golf Consulting, is an expert on women's golf and junior-girls golf. She is a frequent contributor to www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf. Her book, "Women Welcome Here! A Guide to Growing Women's Golf," published by the National Golf Foundation, is an industry reference on marketing golf to women and spotting trends within the industry. She offers information and advice about the golf industry on www.berkleygolfconsulting.com and is often quoted in national publications. Nancy is a member of the World Golf Foundation Women's Committee that launched www.golfforher.com a comprehensive new website for all women golfers at the PGA Merchandise Show in January 2015 in Orlando, Fla. She is a featured speaker at PGA Section meetings and at national conferences. She was a contributing editor of "Golf for Women" magazine and a founding advisor of "Golfer Girl Magazine." Her interviews with women in the golf industry now appear on www.golfergirlcareers.com. Nancy lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Harvard University and Rutgers Law School. After a business and legal career, she decided to write about the game she learned and loved as a teenager. She describes herself as a good bogey golfer with permanent potential.

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