Jordan Spieth knows the grind of golf all too well. A former world No. 1 and three-time major champion, he’s lived the highs of glory and the lows of a long drought. Injuries, swing tweaks, and wrist surgery in 2024 forced him to reset. For years, golf defined him. But life has shifted. Now the grind collides with the pull of family — and what fuels him looks different. For Spieth, the answer comes in the form of tiny voices calling him from the poolside, as he revealed in a recent interview on the Excellence in Process episode on Titleist’s YouTube channel.

Now, family defines him just as much. Spieth and his wife Annie are raising three children—Sammy, Sophie, and newborn Sully, born this July. Their presence reshapes his days, even when fatigue sets in. “I feel like I give 100% to everything I do, but you have to prioritize,” Spieth explained. “Some days I’ve got more energy than others on the road with golf. And then when I’m at home, I prioritize more of the energy being spent at home.”

That balance often comes alive in small moments. “I was so tired yesterday. I got home, Sammy goes, ‘Daddy, let’s go swim.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ Then I’m in the pool. I was in the pool with both of them. I somehow had crazy energy after yesterday.” What began as exhaustion turned into joy, proof that fatherhood recharges him in ways golf never could.

He loves being a dad, and he treasures how it connects back to his career. “I love being a dad and it’s really fun to watch my kids grow up now. But at the same time, it’s also really cool when my son sees me golfing out there. So, I’ve got to still be trying to do that at the highest level possible.” His children inspire him to keep pushing.

Jordan Spieth’s five-to-ten-year runway

That inspiration matters because Spieth knows the clock is ticking. “My drive is still super high because I know it’s limited. The runway of being a top-10 player in the world is realistically five to ten more years. So, I’m going to give it all I have out here. These other guys are doing it, so I got to do it.”

For Spieth, excellence is no longer abstract. “For me, excellence is trying to contend in at least two majors. Making a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team, it’s still possible to do.” These aren’t vague ambitions—they’re his measuring sticks for success in a career he admits is already halfway written.

He looks to history for encouragement. “I was having a lot of success early on, but there was a lot of evidence with some of these guys ahead of me to show that your 30s can be your best decade.” For a player once defined by youthful dominance, it’s now about proving experience can produce just as much.

The reality backs his urgency. Spieth’s last PGA Tour win came at the 2022 RBC Heritage, and he sits outside the world’s top 40 today. He’s played in five Ryder Cups and four Presidents Cups, but his spot on the 2025 team remains uncertain. Still, his priorities extend beyond rankings. He arranges for his family to travel with him, describing fatherhood as “the most rewarding work that there is”

Fans connect with this version of Spieth. They see a player who admits exhaustion, yet finds joy in jumping into the pool after a long day. They see a father who balances work and family like so many of them. And they see a champion who still believes the best may be ahead.

Jordan Spieth’s next five to ten years may define whether his story is remembered as a brilliant burst or a lasting legacy. He knows time is short. He knows the grind is real. But he also knows family keeps him inspired.

Golf pushes him. Family fuels him. And together, they give Spieth every reason to believe his 30s can shine as brightly as his 20s.