Remember a few years back when there was a young, budding star ready to take the PGA Tour by storm?

That was Jordan Spieth.

Whether you watch golf or not, that name is omnipresent in the media, so you probably know of him in some capacity. The 22-year-old turned professional in 2012 and has already made his mark on golf history this past season.

Well, there's another 22-year-old ready to be a full-timer on the PGA Tour. He's pretty familiar with Spieth and is perhaps even beginning to mirror the two-time major winner's early success as a pro.

That's Ollie Schniederjans.

Schniederjans and Spieth began playing junior golf together when they were 15 years old. The two competed for years and had the same goal to play on the PGA Tour. While Spieth turned pro after spending only a year and a half at the University of Texas before beginning his meteoric rise to the top, Schniederjans attended Georgia Tech for four years and graduated in May with a degree in business management.

Spieth had it all figured out early on his career, but the transition wasn't as seamless for Schniederjans.

"I remember my main goal heading into college was to become the No. 1 amateur in the world, but my first year was a struggle," Schniederjans told HNGN recently, as part of an exclusive interview. "I saw those guys – Jordan [Spieth] and Justin [Thomas] – were killing it and were the best in the world. I was kind of lagging behind."

Schniederjans even watched a couple of his other buddies – Patrick Rodgers and Daniel Berger – turn pro before him.

"College was a difficult transition for sure. I had a lot going on in my life that first year. I lost my best friend in a car accident, school was really tough, and my golf was struggling. The academics were extremely difficult, and I just didn't really like school. It was a big life change."

Sure, Schniederjans is behind Spieth, Thomas, Reed and Berger in terms of success on the PGA Tour, but the 22-year-old has grown in his own way, and that's not to be overlooked.

Despite starting off his college career a bit disoriented as almost nothing seemingly went right for him, Schniederjans was glad he chose to attend Georgia Tech even though he was recruited by a number of other top golf schools in the country.

"Coach [Bruce] Heppler has made the program as special as it is," Schniederjans said confidently. "I really believe that those who go there come out much more prepared for life, adversity and challenges compared to most kids coming out of college. I think that's why a lot of guys from GT are on the PGA Tour – those who maybe weren't the most talented players but made it because of their maturity and how much they were able to grow in college.

"My overall college experience was great. There was a lot of good and bad and it prepared me exactly as I hoped it would. It prepared me for the next level and the journey of golf and life," Schniederjans said.

Schniederjans actually made remarkable strides while at Georgia Tech: he was a three-time All-American, two-time ACC Player of the Year and the No. 1 amateur in the world in 2014. He received the McCormack Medal for remaining atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking last year, and, as a result, was granted an invitation to both the 2015 U.S. Open and British Open.

But first came his PGA Tour debut (as an amateur) at the Valspar Championship back in March. He missed the cut after shooting 71 and 75 in the first two rounds, but quickly shook that off to help the United States defeat Europe in the 2015 Palmer Cup in mid-June. That's when he really started getting into a rhythm.

On the first day of the tournament he and his partner, Lee McCoy, defeated their European opponents in the foursomes matches, which got the U.S. off to a fast start. He then won his singles matches handily in the third and fourth rounds to propel the U.S. to an 18-12 victory at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, IL.

"I also played in [the Palmer Cup] two years ago when the U.S. was away in Europe, so it was a good feeling playing on our home turf this time," Schniederjans recalled. "All of the guys on the team were a lot of fun. It was great to be around and feed off of. I think that was such a great way for me to start off my summer – being around those guys and having good vibes heading into the subsequent months. My game started clicking there as well. I won my singles matches by a big margin and it gave me confidence. I went straight to the U.S. Open from there and kind of continued playing steady golf."

The U.S. Open came two days later. Schniederjans was able to sustain his surge at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, WA.

The Georgia Tech graduate was unfazed by the pressure and daunting course conditions, as exemplified by his first round score of 69. He was grouped with veterans Darren Clarke (2011 British Open winner) and Lee Janzen (two-time U.S. Open winner) on Thursday and Friday, which is something that you think might intimidate a recent college graduate making his debut at a major tournament on the PGA Tour.

Not Ollie.

He shot a 73 in the second round and made the cut, then had the opportunity to play with seasoned PGA Tour vets Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, who is now a close friend, in the final two rounds.

Additionally, he and five fellow amateurs made the cut at this year's U.S. Open, which was the tour's highest total since 1966.

"I played a lot of good golf that week. I got much more comfortable around that kind of scene. It was just a blast, getting to play that, it's like a dream come true," Schniederjans said. "I was pleased with what I was capable of doing that week. I felt like I could have done a lot better, and I was still competitive."

He finished tied for 42nd (+7) in those four rounds and would have earned $42,946 if he weren't still playing under his amateur status. For some perspective, consider this: he finished ahead of Westwood, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, Ernie Els, Cameron Tringale, Ian Poulter, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson, among others.

On top of that, Tiger Woods took it upon himself to congratulate Schniederjans only a week later for his profound play in recent rounds.

"I saw [Tiger] at the Quicken Loans National while we were on the putting green. He actually came up to me and introduced himself and complimented me on how I was playing," Schniederjans said. "He was really nice and it was cool to see him, meet him and have him come up to me and give me a compliment. He knew what I was up to. That was really neat."

At the U.S. Open, Schniederjans managed to compete formidably throughout the weekend as many PGA Tour veterans - most notably Bill Horschel - were outspoken about the horrid course conditions at Chambers Bay. Accomplished golfers such as Woods, Martin Kaymer, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Rickie Fowler and others failed to make the cut.

"That gave me a lot of confidence – that I could compete and contend even in the biggest tournaments. I knew that if I played well, if my game was in shape and if I was sharp then I could be competing in majors," Schniederjans said.

He couldn't be any more correct.

If that performance hadn't yet put him on the map, his weekend at St. Andrews less than a month later certainly did: Schniederjans not only made the cut at the British Open, he finished tied for 12th (-9) in golf's oldest major tournament thanks to a final round 67.

He officially turned pro after that weekend during which he was never over par (he shot 70, 72, 70 and 67). He would have taken home $162,107 if he weren't still an amateur.

He gained more invaluable experience after playing with Graeme McDowell, Webb Simpson and Kevin Na throughout the weekend. However, he received the most insight before the tournament even began.

"I felt like I got a lot of help from others," Schniederjans said, the appreciation apparent in his voice. "I got to play a practice round with Phil [Mickelson] and he helped navigate me around St. Andrews. We have somewhat similar playing styles, so I thought it was really nice of him show me how he likes to play certain holes and approach certain pin locations."

At the conclusion of the event, Schniederjans joined Phil and Tiger as the only two amateurs since 1960 to play all four rounds of the U.S. Open and British Open in the same PGA Tour season, according to The Golf Channel.

After Schniederjans' pro debut the following week at the RBC Canadian Open, where he finished tied for 22nd (-9) and collected his first PGA Tour paycheck, he closed out the 2014-2015 season playing as a non-competing marker at the Tour Championship after Jim Furyk withdrew with an injured wrist.

He already kicked off the 2015-2016 season at the Frys.com Open where he finished tied for 48th (-5). His pals, Justin Thomas (T-3rd) and Daniel Berger (T-17th), finished ahead of him and rookie Emiliano Grillo won the event.

As a competitor, this gives Schniederjans great motivation.

"I just really want to keep working hard. I'm focused on trying to contend and win a tournament because that would take care of my pro status," Schniederjans said. "I don't want to have to worry about all the little things I have to do to earn my status."

Now that he's on tour hoping to find his place among the sport's best, he'll be looking to catch up to some of the pros in his age-group. The only thing he sees as a disadvantage is who to root for, likely because Spieth is now the fan-favorite.

"I always liked whoever was dominating at the time. I like seeing the best win. I always cheered for Tiger in his prime because that was amazing to watch," Schniederjans said. "Today I'm trying to get out there and join those guys. A lot of my peers are already out there, so I feel it'd be weird to say someone right now is my favorite."

It might not be long before Schniederjans is his own biggest fan.

*Keep an eye out for Schniederjans, who will be competing in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this week.