In the world of golf there is no course quite like the iconic setting of Augusta National. Despite being pleasing on the eye, though, the famous Georgia setup poses a tough test for the world’s best golfers.
It no doubt requires a special type of player to master the art around Augusta with golfing royalty in Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer part of a select group of players to enjoy repeated success on the course. In the modern era of golf, it has been hard to nail down a dominant force around the Georgia setup, however one man who stakes a claim is 2015 champion Jordan Spieth.
Following his debut in 2014, Spieth has finished outside the top 20 of golf’s flagship event on just two occasions. He kicked things off with a remarkable tied-second finish on debut, before going one better the year later by securing the sacred green jacket after becoming the first wire-to-wire champion in 39 years.
One year later the American was on the verge of going back-to-back, before a heartbreaking back-nine blip saw him surrender the title late on to Englishman Danny Willett, leaving him to match his 2014 finish by tying for second. Spieth has since followed this up with yet more impressive showings, even when enduring struggles elsewhere on the PGA Tour.
Ahead of this week’s tournament fitness coach Trevor Anderson - who worked closely with Spieth - spoke exclusively to Mirror Sport to share the secret behind the 2015 champion’s Augusta success. Anderson is a TRX Master Instructor, and has worked with some of golf’s biggest names.
This list includes two-time major champion Spieth, after the pair linked up together through the American’s lead sponsor Under Armour. Whilst working alongside the 12-time PGA Tour winner, Anderson quickly realised that Spieth wasn’t just a talented golfer, he was also an all-round gifted athlete.
“One thing about Jordan is that he is an athlete,” Anderson said. “He is a multi-sport athlete, a baseball pitcher, he played basketball and he played golf. It isn’t a secret that Jordan is good at what he does.” The game of golf has clearly revolutionised in recent years. PGA Tour stars are now able to hit the ball further than ever before, and the work in the gym seems to be just as important as the grind on the course.
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Whilst this bulking in the game has no doubt brought bigger distances, trainer Anderson believes all of this power training is redundant without control, and a strong mental mindset. He commented: “Traditionally in golf we said we need to get stronger to hit the ball further, but your real brilliance comes in can I be stable and mobile. It is important from activity, performance and mindset and being able to put that together to improve your golf game.”
And Anderson’s theory is no doubt well backed up by the home of the Masters, with many of the game’s greats trying and failing to conquer the gruelling Augusta course.
Anderson believes both Spieth's ability as an all-round athlete, and his measured and strong mental approach has been the key to his success at the opening major of the year. Anderson said: “You see the look in the eye. If you are throwing a piece of paper in the garbage can he [Spieth] wants to win. I think a successful golfer at the PGA Tour level, but how do you separate people?
“Jordan isn’t the longest hitter out there, but at a course like Augusta you can’t overpower it. The reason why Jordan is successful there is because he doesn’t try to overpower anything. He knows where the sweet spot is and he leverages what he does well perfectly as often as he can.”
One man who has been pivotal to golf’s recent evolution is fellow American Bryson DeChambeau. The 2020 US Open champion’s scientific approach combined with his ultra power training, made him far and away the biggest hitter on Tour last campaign.
Many have tried and tested DeChambeau’s technique - including Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson according to Anderson - but have failed to deliver results. Therefore, the fitness instructor believes the 28-year-old is an ‘anomaly’ and in a league of his own. “He [Dechambeau] is an anomaly,” Anderson said.
“Not everybody that puts on that size and strength can have it result in performance. His scientific approach created an environment where if he got bigger, stronger, faster that was still on plane because that was his swing, his angles didn’t change, he could take it to the next level.”
With this type of training though, comes risk to the body. DeChambeau has endured a stop-start campaign in 2022 due to ongoing injury problems, and Anderson believes this is down to his relentless quest for power and distance. He added: “What happens when you get bigger, stronger, faster the connective tissue doesn’t always grow at the same rate. It has caught up with Bryson.
“Seeing him swing out of his shoes, something has to compromise, something has to give. You give up control at a minimum but health is a priority, to be able to compete in an entire PGA Tour season.” Like DeChambeau, Spieth himself is yet to set the world alight in 2022. However, being someone who knows him well, Anderson believes it is impossible to write Spieth off at Augusta this week.
On the 2015 champion’s chances the trainer said: “He is somebody we need to watch out for and have in our thought process as to who can win this. He has experience doing so, he can play from out front and has a competitive mindset to maintain that lead. It is like talking about Tiger Woods. Is Tiger going to play? You can never count the guy out and if he is on the course he has the potential to win it and Jordan is the same kind of player.
“Players that have that familiarity, they know how to play from behind, play in front and maintain a lead. They know the ins and outs and what the crowds feel like and he has the ability to win… The fact Jordan has done that time and time again definitely makes him a favourite.” With the American’s stellar record and Anderson’s inside information, it would come as no surprise to many to see Spieth competing at the right end of the leaderboard come Sunday.
Trevor Anderson is a TRX Master Instructor, for workout inspiration check out the TRX Training Club .
