Champion character on and off the course

Many would agree that golf is an individual sport, but that's not how No. 1 golf player in the world, Jordan Spieth, sees it.

If you were able to watch golf last weekend, you witnessed the 22-year-old dominate the final round of the 2015 PGA Tour Championship.

Although we wish it could have been Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson giving the acceptance speech, we were able to witness the 'drive” behind another elite player.

To me, what was even more incredible than Spieth's victory, was his acceptance speech when awarded the 2015 FedEx Cup.

Even though Spieth was crowned player of the year and winner of a cool $22 million, he didn't refer to himself as winning: Spieth told the world that 'the team” had won.

When asked about the victory, Spieth used the word 'we” so much that the announcer had to ask him about it, 'I believe we're a brand. We're a company. We are competing together - all for the same goal. We have a great team, and no one's been scared of the next level, and that's why we are where we are right now. So I believe that on and off the course, it's not just me.”

Champion characteristics that lead to success:

l Be a good teammate. Spieth talks about his victory as a team effort. Who is a part of your team? What is your brand? How would you define your mission statement? Your team could include your employees, friends, parish, family, your partner. How can you be a better teammate?

l Acknowledge your appreciation. A recent study found that when partners acknowledge what they were grateful for in each other, that it meant more than saying, 'I love you.” Express gratitude to the important people in your life. The more specific the better. For example, 'Thank you for taking the time to make me breakfast this morning. It really fueled the rest of my day. You are so thoughtful.”

l Surround yourself with the 'best.” In his speech, Spieth talks about surrounding himself with people who are the 'best at what they do.” Surround yourself with people who challenge you to be your best and who support your dreams.

l Early grind. During the tournament, Spieth was the first to show up on the course on Monday morning. He was on the putting green three hours before his tee time. His caddie, Michael Greller, calls it the 'early grind.” In what area(s) of your life can you apply the 'early grind” concept?

l Contemplate your legacy. 'I'm a professional golfer, but what I do on the course I want to be secondary to what I do off the course,” says Spieth. 'I would like to have my legacy someday be off course more than on course.” It's easy to get caught up in identifying who you are with 'what you do” in your career. Take a step back and look at the big picture. What are you doing today that will contribute to your legacy tomorrow?

l Kylie Alger is a certified wellness coach and co-owner of The Well-Woman: Body, Mind & Spirit. Comments: kylie@thewellwoman.org