The key to winning the U.S. Junior Amateur is simple: hit fairways, make putts, card birdies, play well. But recently, there has been a common pattern that has emerged with the champions of this U.S. Golf Association championship.
Since 2009, a Cameron McCormick-coached golfer has won the U.S. Junior four times. Jordan Spieth won twice, in 2009 and ’11, and Will Zalatoris (short game) and Philip Barbaree, the past two U.S. Junior champs, in 2014 and ’15, respectively, each have one victory.
Which brings us to this year at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., where another McCormick pupil is looking to continue this impressive streak.