Jordan Spieth chips a ball through a basketball hoop at Under Armour

Jordan Spieth and Stephen Curry are friends and fellow Under Armour endorsers.

When Spieth visited Under Armour’s Baltimore headquarters last week, the golfer paid tribute to his basketball buddy by donning the latest Curry-signature shoes, the Curry 3 in the “Grey Matter” colorway.

Then Spieth was asked to take a challenge: chip a golf ball through an indoor basketball hoop.

Under Armour captured his trick-shot attempt on video.

Smiling slightly, Spieth chipped the first two balls wide of the rim.

“OK, all right, all right. We’re closer,” said Spieth, focusing.

He then hits the third shot through the hoop.

“Steph’s an awesome golfer,” Spieth says. “We haven’t played yet – been talking about it, so hopefully we’ll tee it up or shoot around,  whatever it may be. Or both.”

Both Spieth and Curry, the Golden State Warriors star, are in their second partnership with Under Armour, having signed long-term extensions following their original deals.

More games: friv

Jordan Spieth prioritises Ryder Cup victory over a second FedEx Cup

Albeit the success of 2015 may influence his thinking, Jordan Spieth will place team success over that of an individual variety during the next fortnight. When asked which he would cherish more, a FedEx or Ryder Cup, Spieth’s desire to be part of a winning USA contingent at Hazeltine was abundantly clear for merely the latest time.

Spieth will spend the coming days in the Tour Championship at East Lake, where he is seeking to defend the FedEx Cup – and pick up a $10m bonus – he claimed a year ago. Next weekend, the Texan is likely to play a key role as the USA look to turn around a dismal recent Ryder Cup run.

“I don’t have a Ryder Cup,” Spieth said. “I think I will have a Ryder Cup at some point. I think that will be easier to win, easier to have a Ryder Cup than a FedExCup going forward, given you may not play your best and you’ve got team-mates around you that play their best and win it.

“But if you’re saying 2016, right now I’ve got a choice, Ryder Cup. You want something that you don’t have. That’s a trophy that I’ve watched the other side of at Gleneagles in 2014 and it hurt. It was tough at the closing ceremony.

“We had a good time that evening but when we boarded the plane back home, it was an empty feeling. We don’t want that again. We remember that, those of us that were there, and the guys that were there in Medinah in 2012. We want that celebration. We want that champagne falling off the balcony. I’m pretty confident about how we’re going to go about our business. I think we’ve got a fantastic team this year, one of the best teams I can remember looking back at, and I love being a part of that.”

Not that Spieth has diverted focus entirely from the Tour Championship, which capped off his stunning 2015 season. He was on site at Hazeltine on Sunday and Monday as a batch of US players joined those – Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger – who are looking to receive Davis Love III’s final captain’s pick.

“The best chance I have for next week is to go out and play my best golf this week,” Spieth, 23, said. “We have plenty of time. It doesn’t start until Friday. It’s a long week there, I’ve got experience of what that entails. We’re busy every night until 10pm during the Ryder Cup with dinners or galas or ceremonies and it wears on you. So having gone and played those two rounds was a big advantage for my preparation next week, but now that I’m here, I’m only thinking about this.”

Should Watson, the world No7, be overlooked then controversy will ensue. Spieth’s sentiments are understandably mixed, given a long-time friendship with Thomas and the belief that history illustrates there is no obvious value in Ryder Cup experience when it comes to wildcards. From Thursday attention will understandably fall on Thomas, Watson and Berger as they compete on the outskirts of Atlanta.

“I think it’s challenging [for them]. I think it’s tough,” Spieth said. “And the reason I say that is because I’ve spent a lot of time with them. Justin’s admitted that he’s put so much pressure on the Ryder Cup this year, he thinks it negatively affected some of his performances where, if it just wasn’t on his mind at all, he’d have maybe felt a little less stress or pressure trying to grab points at the end of the round instead of just playing his game.

“I think Berger’s the same way. Bubba, what is he, seven in the world? That’s tough right there. There’s 24 players in the Ryder Cup that go down to, I don’t know what the lowest world ranking is. I don’t know if anybody’s ever been passed up at that spot. But they all know that, if they come in here and if they can somehow block that out and focus on this tournament, it will help all of them. We want who’s hot.

“In my opinion, we want whoever’s playing the best to be the last pick.

“Bubba didn’t seem upset about anything. He didn’t seem like he was entitled to any position or any advantage over anybody else. I think he really feels like he needs to do his job this week.”

How Jordan Spieth’s skillful bogey saved his PGA chances

Jordan Spieth’s day began with a 45-minute rain delay inside of a tent, he hit a spectator with a shot at No. 18 and he nearly ended his afternoon with a rules violation.

Taking that all into account, the world’s No. 3 player should be thrilled to enter the third round still in contention, six shots off the lead. His patience is as much of a reason he’s not buried as anything else.

Spieth looked to be in major trouble on the par-4 seventh hole, after hitting his tee shot into a puddle on the cart path. However, after conferring with a PGA of American rules official for roughly 10 minutes and taking multiple drops, he managed to make bogey thanks to a spectacular recovery shot, saving a disastrous hole.

“It was as complicated as I’ve ever really had it,” Spieth said. “[I] took about as much time as I’ve ever taken on a free drop.”

It enabled Spieth to finish the second round of the PGA Championship with a 3-under 67, and as a result trail surprising leader Jimmy Walker by six shots. If he can navigate Baltusrol’s greens better — and improve on the seventh hole, his nemesis at the halfway point of the tournament — it could be a big weekend for the young Texan.

Spieth started on the 10th hole, and completed an impressive front nine, birdying the 10th, 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th. He wasn’t as successful on the back nine, failing to register a birdie. The seventh hole was his saving grace, because of how big of a number he could’ve posted. It was also the source of controversy.

Spieth spoke with Brad Gregory, former PGA of America Rules Chair, about all his options. He eventually was given the go-ahead after his final drop settled three feet from the original shot. He changed his stance so he wasn’t standing in casual water — by rules, a player can’t be in the water if the ball is dropped out of it — and hit the ball over the green, setting up the bogey. But replays seemed to indicate Spieth’s left foot was in the water at the time. He said it was only his toe hovering over the water.

Either way, the PGA of America ruled not to give Spieth a two-shot penalty, explaining in a statement: “In this case, Jordan was entitled to either play the ball as it lay, even if his stance was still in the casual water or, he could have elected to take relief again from the casual water under this different type of stroke that he then elected to play.”

Spieth said: “I literally asked every question I could ask and I got every answer I could to be content. That’s first and foremost what you are trying to do is obviously abide by the rules. He said it was just fine, so it was just fine.”

Spieth, coming off disappointing performances at the British Open and U.S. Open — he finished 30th and 37th, respectively — seems encouraged by his current standing. His putter remained inconsistent, costing him a chance at an even better score Friday, but he managed to rebound from a few wayward drives, particularly the one on the seventh.

“I think I’ve seen a bit of everything so far this weekend on and around the greens,” Spieth said. “Finding the middle ground this weekend [is important].

“Overall I feel like I’m in a good position to make a run. I just need a couple good rounds.”

Globetrotters include Neymar, Jordan Spieth in 2016 draft class

The NBA draft is on Thursday, but the Harlem Globetrotters already have announced their 2016 draft class.

Not a bad collection of talent, eh? Headlined by one of the top soccer players in the world (Neymar), the winner of the 2015 Masters and U.S. Open (Spieth), and a four-time swimming gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics (Franklin).

Franklin, who is 6-foot-2 and played basketball in high school, responded to the news via Twitter.

Douglas is the one draftee who might actually play for the team: He's the 2016 College Slam Dunk Contest winner, out of Division II University of Mary.

The Globetrotters have been drafting players for 10 years now. Four current members of the squad were drafted -- Anthony "Ant" Atkinson, Tay "Firefly" Fisher, William "Bull" Bullard and Corey "Thunder" Law.

"But we also look beyond the court, for those athletes and entertainers that have the qualities of not only being great on the court or the field, but also being a good person off of it," said director of player personnel and coach Sweet Lou Dunbar. "Those are the most important traits that make a true Globetrotter."

Previous draftees from other sports include Mariano Rivera (2013), Usain Bolt (2012), Lionel Messi (2011) and Tim Howard (2009).

Jordan Spieth's house guest this week, SMU-ex Colt Knost, raves about the accommodations (other than one minor, brief gripe)

IRVING -- SMU-ex and Pilot Point product Colt Knost, coming off a third-place tie and course-record-tying 63 at last week's Players Championship, gets a reward of sorts this week.

Knost, who moved to Scottsdale last month, no longer has a house in Dallas, so he's bunking at Jordan Spieth's place.

"Yeah, I'm slumming over there at that little shack he's got," Knost said Wednesday.

That would be the 10,000-plus-square-foot Preston Hollow shack that Spieth purchased early this year for $7.1 million.

Spieth on Tuesday had revealed that his house guests this week are his caddie Michael Greller, Greller's wife Ellie and Knost.

Being asked Wednesday about Spieth's house made Knost a bit sheepish. He wasn't surprised when reporters pressed him for details.

"It's pretty special," Knost said. "It's a really cool house. I would never need to leave. It's got everything you need there, except I was giving him a hard time: I said, 'There a TV every three feet in this house, except for the bedroom I'm staying in.'"

A minor, and momentary, oversight, it turns out.

"We changed that pretty quickly," Knost said with a smile. He didn't elaborate on whether he changed rooms or got a TV moved to his original room. But clearly, the Spieth Resort & Spa isn't lack for much, except apparently for one TV in one room.

"It's a phenomenal place," Knost said, "especially for a 22-year-old to be living in."

Watch: Jordan Spieth hits incredible, edible trick shot

Jordan Spieth is better than most at golf. His two majors last season and No. 2 overall ranking in the world are proof of that.

But did you know the game is so easy for Spieth he can play and eat at the same time?

No. Well, just check out this trick shot:

Yes, you saw that correctly. Spieth placed a marshmallow on top of the golf ball, hit said golf ball and then tracked the marshmallow in the air before catching it in his mouth.

Now all Spieth needs is a graham cracker and some chocolate on the course and he could have a complete dessert.

Jordan Spieth’s caddie posts message vowing they'll be 'back' following Masters debacle

Jordan Spieth’s caddie Michael Greller takes to Facebook to issue an emotional and philosophical reflection about Sunday’s Masters defeat.

Jordan Spieth’s collapse at the Masters has been assessed, dissected, and analyzed as if it were the Zapruder film by pundits who want to know what went wrong, when, and why. That will be the case for years to come.

Jordan Spieth will not be one of those doing the slicing and dicing, according to his caddie, Michael Greller.

"The 2016 Masters stung … We have received an outpouring of support and thoughtful messages. But don't feel sorry or sad for us," Greller wrote on Facebook after letting the passion surrounding Sunday’s final round subside some. "We won't get stuck in this moment, nor should you. We will work harder, fight harder and be better for it. We will bounce back as we have done many times."

Greller, a critical part of Spieth’s "we" team since he began looping for him full-time in 2012, congratulated Danny Willett for his "incredible final round" and related a story about watching Spieth lose the 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship after conceding a two-foot-plus putt to Jack Senior on the final hole.

"Rather than run to the locker-room and escape the scene, he stuck around and thanked his friends who had followed him," Greller wrote. "There was no panic, anger or sadness."

Greller noted that Spieth went on to defeat Senior in Walker Cup singles a couple weeks later and has nine worldwide wins since that day, among other accomplishments:

"Two majors. One Fed Ex Cup. Been #1 golfer on the planet. Two President’s Cup teams. One Ryder Cup team. A future Olympian."

With all the success comes "tough losses," like the one that ended his pursuit of the calendar grand slam at last year’s British Open — after which Spieth congratulated winner Zach Johnson "and even flew home with him."

Winning, Greller noted, "shows your character and losing shows ALL your character." His boss, he said, displays "grace and humility through wins and especially losses … Jordan Spieth is the same genuine, grounded and humble person he was five years ago, in victory or defeat."

Greller also shared a perspective that those of us who chronicle the ups and down, Ws and Ls, the thrill, and agony of athletic competition would do well to remember.

"At the end of the day, golf is a sport," he wrote. "This isn’t life and death stuff."

National writer: I'd love to see 'burnt out' Jordan Spieth take the next month off

Jordan Spieth's a busy man. After winning the Masters and U.S. Open last year, he's already made appearances at tournaments in Singapore, Dubai and Hawaii in 2016. 

And the former Jesuit and University of Texas student is already signed up for two D-FW-area events: the AT&T Byron Nelson and the Dean & Deluca Invitational (formerly The Colonial).

Now, after Spieth missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open, golf pundits are starting to wonder if Spieth's schedule is getting the best of him.

Alan Shipnuck, Sports Illustrated's senior golf writer, said he'd recommend Spieth take an entire month away from golf to take a breath.

"Jordan, we know this issue is not his golf game, it’s his crazy schedule he’s been on," Shipnuck said on Golf Live. "He’s burnt out, he’s run down, he’s a little apathetic, he’s had a bad attitude. Theoretically this can be fixed. I would love to see him take the next month off, just play one more event and turn up at the Masters a little refreshed."

Spieth remains atop the Official World Golf Rankings despite his missed cut.

Jordan Spieth watch: What's new, notable, to come for the world's No. 1 golfer

This week: Off

Last week: Northern Trust Open, missed cut

2016 glance: World rank No. 1, FedEx Cup 12th, PGA Tour money 9th ($1,426,550), 5 starts worldwide, 1 win, 4 top-10s.

What's new: Since he began playing the tour as a pro, Spieth has made the cut in 66 of his 79 starts (and finished in the top-25 53 times). He is adept at fixing his game and bouncing back. Although he missed the cut at last week's Northern Trust Open, he followed the worst opening round of his career with a 68, which provided confidence entering an off week. In 11 missed cuts since 2013, Spieth has followed with six top-10 finishes. "We rebounded in perfect form last year on just about every missed cut," Spieth said. "We'll be fine."

Notable: Spieth has been using SuperStroke's S-Tech club grips on his Titleist woods, irons and wedges. Although he has been using the SuperStroke putter grip since 2013, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions marked the first time he's had the grips on every club. The grips have a rubber compound that produces a soft feel and a cross-traction texture that combats slippage in wet conditions.

What's next: WGC-Cadillac Championship, Trump National Doral, Miami, Fla.