Connelly inspired by Spieth in Blairgowrie

Austin Connelly and Andrea Lee are both well accustomed to the big time, the former being a close friend of Jordan Spieth and the latter getting a taste of the limelight at this year’s US Women’s Open Championship, so they know what to expect at this week’s Junior Ryder Cup.

The two Americans have been blown away by the welcome they have received in the last few days at the ‘Home of Golf’ and have been equally impressed with the testing, traditional lay-out of the host venue Blairgowrie Golf Club, where they will attempt to make it a fourth successive victory for the Unites States this coming Monday and Tuesday.

The European team for this year’s contest has been touted as being one of the strongest in the history of the event but Connelly and Lee are unfazed.

Connelly, the winner of the prestigious FootJoy Invitational this summer, is a friend of World Number 13 Spieth, who played in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Hotel and will line out for Tom Watson’s American team at the main event at the same venue next week.

The 18 year old is sure to take some inspiration from the success of his fellow Texan and is eager to get out there and show what he is made of.

“I played here in Scotland once back in 2008 and it’s pretty special being here,” said Connelly. “The whole atmosphere is completely different to what we’re accustomed to back in the States.

“The golf course is phenomenal so I'm really looking forward this week. It definitely makes us feel comfortable, the welcome we have received in Scotland so far. It kind of makes you feel at home so it’s been great.

“I haven’t talked to Jordan recently, we’ve been on the go so much this summer but I'm sure I’ll get to see him at some point next week so I'm looking forward to that. The ultimate goal is to get to the real Ryder Cup and this is a stepping stone for us so it’s pretty neat.

“Walking through the airport, having the USA all over our bags and wearing the red, white and blue is not something you get to do every day so it’s really special, unlike anything else.

“We’re all very close friends. I’ve known Brad (Dalke) and Sam (Burns) since we were five or six years old. I actually beat Brad in a play-off to win my first ever tournament when I was five so we’ve known each other forever. It’s great being here with all these guys.”

Lee, meanwhile, arrives in Scotland for the first time having made a name for herself on the world stage at Pinehurst in June, where she made the cut at one of the Ladies’ Majors at the age of 15.

The Californian also represented the USA in the Junior Solheim Cup in 2013, so she knows all about being a team player, and she is hoping to put both of those experiences to good use next week at Blairgowrie.

“It’s amazing, everyone is just so supportive,” she said. “I've met so many great people already and it’s only been the first day. I love Scotland so far, the weather is perfect and the conditions on the course are really great so I'm really excited to be here.

“It feels amazing. I've always wanted to play in this event, it was one of my major goals this year, to be able to a part of the Junior Ryder Cup. To accomplish that is really exciting and I can’t wait to play.

“I think we can perform this week. I know that the European team is probably one of the strongest teams that they’ve had in the history of the Junior Ryder Cup but I think we can handle it.

“It’s going to be a really fun week, we’re just going to all have fun out there and it will be a nice rivalry.

“I think the US Women’s Open was definitely a nerve-wracking experience with all of the people there but I'm just going to take that experience with me and I kept it throughout the whole summer and brought it with me here too so I feel really confident this week.

“I love playing with a team. I played in the Junior Solheim Cup last year and the Wyndham Cup several times so I love the team experience, to be able to have that camaraderie with all your friends and just be part of a team, especially this week being part of a team to represent the USA, it’s amazing.”

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