Golf has evolved over the past few years, in large part due to the influence of Tiger Woods. It is now considered a sport with golfers as athletes – golfers are looking for every competitive edge they can get to perform well and win championships and that includes putting time in the gym. Tiger Woods definitely brought this trend into the spotlight and influenced the entire generation of golfers that we see on TV today.
Players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are the prototypical modern golfer. And perhaps the athlete who has evolved the most since his early years on TOUR is Rory McIlroy – we’ve seen the evolution through his Men’s Health Magazine covershoot, his article on running, his training routine and also from his strength and conditioning coach. Another young superstar, who may not have the flash of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy, who also puts in a lot of time in the gym is three-time Major Champion Jordan Spieth. Read the article by Under Armour below and find out all about Jordan Spieth and what the training looks like for one of the best golfers in the world.
When you meet Jordan Spieth, what strikes you isn’t a win-at-all costs, day-in and day-out grind type of athlete. Calm, cool and unendingly polite, he smiles and introduces himself, a firm handshake belying a lean and lithe 6-foot-1 frame.
Those who know and follow Jordan would tell you, however, that behind that easy demeanor lies a ferocious competitor, hell bent on finding every possible advantage and exploiting it – a trait that helped him capture three majors before his 25th birthday. Leading into the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive, and another go at the career grand slam, Jordan has been hard at work; work that starts in the gym.
Spieth and his trainer Troy Van Biezen recently opened a window to the world for a a peek into what training looks like for one of the elite golfers on the PGA Tour. Focusing on contrast training, Jordan is put through incredibly taxing, speed and power workouts designed to keep his body guessing through weight and high intensity interval training. A focus on the lower body and core has made Jordan as explosive as ever, key for a golfer who generates power from the hips. The more power that is generated through the lower body, the easier it is to use the upper body for control and hand speed, giving Jordan the ability to use his irons with pinpoint accuracy.
“I’m a training nerd – I don’t look like The Rock but I’m a training nerd for golf specific exercises. I just love doing it.”
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The results are coming. After a strong showing at the Open Championship at Carnoustie that ultimately fell short on the final day, Jordan was back in the gym, focusing on the PGA Championship. Resistance training with core stabilization, Bulgarian squats, deadlifts, box jumps and much more dominate Spieth’s workout to ensure he can perform at his peak for four rounds.
“I feel as physically fit this time of the year as ever…as far as how I feel this late in the season, it’s the best I’ve ever felt,” said Spieth.
Jordan and Troy have zeroed in on a program and approach focusing on mobility and flexibility to give him a leg up in some of the most pressure-filled situations in sports. Jordan needs to be able to have complete focus when all eyes are on him, which means minimizing physical distractions including fatigue. Body fatigue in golf can drastically affect mechanics and results, a key reason why Jordan must maintain the best physical condition to challenge like he does almost every week.
“I can go and do a simple warmup in the gym and I just feel better if everything’s activated,” said Spieth. “Golf-specific training is different from other sports. We aren’t looking to bulk up…but at the same time we need more mobility and flexibility.”
He may look like a mild-mannered, easy-to-like Texan, but don’t be fooled. Jordan Spieth puts the rest of the field on notice every week, backed by WILL and hard work.
Source: Under Armour
