“She’s The Most Special Part of Our Family”: Jordan Spieth’s Enduring Tribute to His Sister Ellie
In the high-stakes world of professional golf, where majors are won on razor-thin margins and legacies are forged under unrelenting pressure, Jordan Spieth has long stood out not just for his prodigious talent but for his profound humility. At 32, the Dallas native remains a force on the PGA Tour, with three major championships under his belt—including a historic 2015 season that saw him claim the Masters and U.S. Open. Yet, amid the fairways and greens, Spieth’s true north has always pointed back home, to the unbreakable bond he shares with his younger sister, Ellie. “She’s the most special part of our family,” Spieth has said time and again, a refrain that echoes through his life like a steady heartbeat. This sentiment, first captured in vivid detail nearly a decade ago, continues to define him—a reminder that family, not fame, is the real scorecard.
Ellie’s story is one of quiet resilience, woven into the fabric of the Spieth family’s narrative from the very beginning. Born prematurely in 2001, she entered the world facing immediate challenges, spending months in the hospital before coming home. Diagnosed with a neurological disorder that affects her development—often described as autism—she navigates life with a spirit that Spieth calls “a happy dance interrupted by cloudbursts.” Those words, borrowed from a poignant New York Times profile, paint a picture of joy laced with unpredictability, much like the game Spieth plays so masterfully. “Ellie certainly is the best thing that’s happened in our family,” he told the Akron Beacon Journal years ago, crediting her with instilling in him a perspective that keeps even the toughest bogeys in check.
Growing up in Dallas, the Spieth household revolved around Ellie in the most loving way. “We say all the time—our friends and his friends—we all live in Ellie’s world,” their mother, Chris Spieth, once shared. Jordan, the middle child between older brother Steven (now a rising star in basketball coaching) and Ellie, learned early on to prioritize her needs. As a teenager, he volunteered weekly at her special-needs school, an experience that left an indelible mark. In his high school yearbook, an 18-year-old Spieth penned a heartfelt note to her: “Ellie, I know every day presents its fair share of struggles, but the fight that you show every day inspires everyone who knows you. Spending each Wednesday with you this year has been a blessing and I love you.” It’s a testament to a sibling bond that flows both ways—not one of pity, but of mutual adoration. As Rosalind Funderburgh, founder of Ellie’s school, put it, “It’s like any two siblings who adore each other.”
This devotion has spilled over into Spieth’s professional life in ways both subtle and profound. On the course, Ellie’s presence is a talisman. When she attends tournaments, Spieth has a habit of finishing strong—second, first, and first in her last three visits during his breakout years. She gets the first hug after every round, her unfiltered enthusiasm cutting through the roar of crowds. “She has no concept of our sporting accomplishments,” Chris noted, “and needs to be kept away from the ropes to stop her talking to me.” Yet, it’s Ellie’s unbridled happiness over the “littlest things”—a keychain souvenir from a new city, a family singalong at church where she belts out “Round yon furniture, mother and child” instead of the traditional lyrics—that grounds Spieth. “Spending time with her, you can see she is learning and adapting every day, and getting smarter,” he reflected. In a sport that can amplify frustrations, Ellie reminds him: “All these frustrations in a day, or in a round of golf, are really secondary.”
Spieth’s commitment to his sister extends far beyond personal anecdotes; it’s the cornerstone of his philanthropy. Launched in 2015, the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation (JSFF) was born from a desire to channel his success into meaningful change, inspired directly by Ellie’s journey. “Jordan’s story always came back to Ellie, his sister and cheerleader, who means the world to him,” the foundation’s mission statement reads. With pillars focused on youth golf, military families, pediatric cancer, and—most centrally—individuals with special needs, the JSFF has granted over $10 million to more than 150 community partners. Recent efforts include a $500,000 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for acute myeloid leukemia research, a cause that hits close to home after childhood friends battled the disease.
Even as Spieth’s life has evolved—marrying college sweetheart Annie Verret in 2018, welcoming three children (Sammy, a daughter in 2021; a son in 2023; and little Sully in July 2025)—Ellie remains the “real star” of the family. Social media glimpses, though sparse from Spieth himself, capture her infectious energy: dancing to Eli Young Band at the Spieth Shootout charity event in 2017, rocking out with Jake Owen in 2015, or simply hanging out as the “true athlete of the family” in a 2013 photo. These moments underscore a truth Spieth has lived by: Success isn’t measured in green jackets alone. “I try to get back home all the time to be with her and regroup things,” he once said. “She sets everything in perspective for me.”
In an era where athletes are often defined by their stats or scandals, Jordan Spieth’s story with Ellie stands as a beacon of what family truly forges. She’s not just his sister; she’s the source of his humility, his drive, and his unshakeable belief in the power of perspective. As Spieth continues to chase birdies and build his legacy, one thing remains crystal clear: In the Spieth world, it’s always been about Ellie. And for that, she’s the most special part of us all.
