Of the top nine players currently lying on the USA Ryder Cups standings there is surprisingly one who has played in competition on this year’s host Gleneagles course.

Jordan Spieth was just 17 years of age when he represented the USA in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course.

Now three years on the Dallas-born Spieth looks set to make his Ryder Cup debut in Tom Watson’s USA side after jumping 10 places to fourth overall on the USA standing despite his continuing disappointment in letting slip victory last Sunday at Augusta.

“I just loved playing at Gleneagles when I played in the Junior Ryder Cup back in 2010 and the week before we all were taken down to Celtic Manor for the Ryder Cup itself,” said Spieth.

Jordan Spieth (left in back row) as a member of the 2010 victorious USA Junior Ryder Cup side. (Photo – www.europenatour.com)

“It’s a very interesting American designed golf course and I really enjoyed the occasion.

“Of course, we played it in September when the Ryder Cup will also be played, but I remember we teed-up one morning off the snow and it was freezing.

“But it was a cool experience and it’s a cool track with some blind shots and quite a few carries over different bunkers and overall to find a golf course over there in Scotland I think would play more into an American favour compared to what it can be.

“So it’s a golf course that suits my eye but then anything I’ve been to before suits my eye given I have not been to that many places in my time out here (smiling).

“Also Gleneagles is just an incredible resort kind of out in the middle of nowhere but then when you drive in, here’s this giant castle staring at you, along with a cute par three course.

“If I make the team, and I hoping I do, it is going to be a crazy, cool experience playing a Ryder Cup over there in Scotland.”

However Spieth again confirmed he will not be competing in July’s Scottish Open, and despite having been a member of the losing 2011 USA Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen.

And after rain ruined Spieth and Watson playing a pre-Masters practice round, Watson is looking forward to competing alongside a player 44 years his junior

Jordan Spieth rekons the Gleneagles PGA Centennary course is a ‘cool track’. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“I like the way Jordan plays the game. He’s got passion,” said Watson.

“I also have to laugh, as sometimes he gets up there and he hits a bad shot, and he says ‘that’s real close’, about 40 yards off the line, that’s exactly what I would say, ‘that’s real close’, just muttering to himself.

“But I remember when I was a kid and playing the game.  He makes me relive some of the memories that I had when I was his age.

“He’s done very well.  He’s mature, as he talks to you and he has a good sense of who he is and I like that about him.”

In fact, Spieth has been drawn to compete alongside Watson and 2012 USA Captain Davis Love 111 for the opening two rounds of this week’s RBC Heritage Classic at Hilton Head in South Carolina.

Watson is a past two-time winner on the Harbor Town Golf Links course, and while he’s among 19 past Major winners, it’s all part of the eight-time Major Champions ‘getting to know’ his prospective team members better.