Jordan Spieth sets sights on Texas success

Jordan Spieth reminisced on his professional debut at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas, as he prepares to tee off at the AT T Byron Nelson.

Spieth's first start as a pro came in his home state in 2010, finishing tied for 16th at the Byron Nelson Championship - which was re-named ahead of the 2015 tournament.

Then ranked 864th, Spieth is now number two in the world and the reigning Masters champion.

The 21-year-old said he had not forgotten his PGA Tour bow.

"It is cool being on that 10th tee box and remembering the first shot I hit in a professional tournament when I was 16 with people lining the bridge behind after the rain delay at about 5pm and I had to wait in here playing ping pong and trying to kill time the whole day," said Spieth, who will tee off alongside Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas on Thursday.

"I was so nervous but went out there and got off to a good start and played 11 holes before darkness set and then had a really good Friday.

"I got in the hunt and just had a lot of support and familiar faces.

"What that tournament did was allow me to realise I can eventually come out here and play professional golf and do it for a living and thoroughly enjoy it and working at it as these guys did.

"I was able to see how much time and effort they put into it and from an early age experience that which helped me and made every other tournament seem a little bit easier."

Spieth has been in scintillating form in his home state, with his past three starts there seeing him finish second - he was behind runaway Texas Open winner Jimmy Walker, lose in a play-off to JB Holmes at the Houston Open before a tied for second at the Crowne Plaza Invitational behind Chris Kirk last week.

"It is kind of funny to have three runner-up finishes all with a different way of doing it," the three-time winner on the US tour said.

"One was separated from first and third, one was in a tie trying to make a play-off.

"I would like to build on the momentum from last week and approach it like another event and get in the hunt and let the crowds add to the momentum and change the way that these events in Texas have gone, they haven't been poor events but it would be really cool to close one out and a dream come true at this event and one I have always imagined winning."