Young ambition bolsters Nelson event

A tournament in need of a boost because of its less-than-stellar field received one yesterday when Dallas amateur Jordan Spieth made the cut at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

Spieth, a 16-year-old high school junior playing hooky from Jesuit College Prep School, became the sixth-youngest player to make the cut at a PGA event. He qualified for the final two rounds by shooting 68-69 137 through 36 holes.

At 16 years, nine months and 24 days, Spieth is the second 16-year-old to make a cut at this level this season, joining Italy's Matteo Manassero, who pulled it off at the Masters. Manassero also has the best-ever finish by someone so young, having tied for 13th at the 2009 British Open.

Spieth can take pride in doing something Tiger Woods was unable to do. When Woods was invited to play in the Byron Nelson Championship at age 17 in 1993 he failed to make the cut, shooting 77-72. Woods returned four years later and won the event, making him still its youngest winner.

Only time will tell is Spieth can better that feat, but one has to wonder if early success at such a young age is a blessing or a curse. A look at the top five youngest players to make the cut in PGA Tour history is evidence enough to merit caution before hailing Spieth the next Woods. The top five youngest are Bob Panasik, Tadd Fujikawa, Justin Thomas, Manassero and Ty Tryon.

Panasik was 15 years, 8 months and 20 days old when he made the cut of the 1957 Canadian Open before finishing tied for 66th. Fujikawa was 16 years and four days old when he made the cut of the 2007 Sony Open before finishing tied for 20th. Thomas was 16 years, two months and 23 days old when he made the cut of the 2009 Wyndham Championship before finishing tied for 78th, Manassero was 16 years, two months and 29 days old when he made the cut at the 2009 British Open and Ty Tryon was 16 years, nine months and seven days old when he made the cut of the 2001 Honda Classic.

The jury is still out on Manassero, but he appears to have a good chance of living up to the expectations that come with early success. It's safe to say Panasik, Fujikawa, Thomas and Tryon might have enjoyed their brightest moments on golf's stage at an early age.

Spieth, who was followed by a large gallery of his high school buddies during yesterday's round at the TPC Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, seemed very level-headed during a post-round interview with the Golf Channel's Nick Faldo and Kelly Tilghman, admitting he was a bit shocked by his own success. But success for the reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champion shouldn't come as a total surprise. Just last week Spieth won a state high school title. Still, one can only wish him well as he deals with the extra weight of greater expectations.

Meanwhile, the uninhibited power of youth was also on display yesterday in Raleigh, N.C., at the Rex Hospital Open, where high school sophomore Grayson Murray became the second-youngest player to make the cut at a Nationwide Tour event.

The 16-year-old birdied five of his final seven holes to shoot a second-round 66 for a 3-under 139 total after 36 holes. The reigning North Carolina Class 4-A medalist said he "didn't have too many expectations going into a professional tournament" and is approaching the final two rounds as an educational experience. Sounds like a smart lad.

Information from ESPN.com, Golf.com and the Associated Press contributed to this post.