Jordan Spieth, a prominent figure in the world of golf, has announced that he anticipates being sidelined for the remainder of 2024 following surgery on his left wrist. This development comes after years of battling with the issue, which originated in late 2017 or early 2018.
The wrist problem has been a persistent thorn in Spieth's career, an issue that he has managed with varying degrees of success. Despite experiencing significant discomfort, Spieth continued to compete, often pushing through the pain. However, a severe wrist dislocation in May last year after a poolside incident with his son marked a turning point. This incident forced Spieth to withdraw from the Byron Nelson tournament the following week.
Spieth's determination to compete in 2024 led to nearly 20 wrist dislocations since February, severely affecting his iron play. The physical toll was evident as he almost withdrew from the John Deere Classic due to another dislocation. Reflecting on the season, Spieth admitted the severity of his situation reached an unsustainable level.
"It was something that couldn't fix itself with rest, unfortunately. So that's why I ended up having to do this," Spieth shared candidly. “I actually texted [caddie] Michael [Greller] like, 'Hey man, it came out last night, it hasn't gone back in overnight. And I can't do this. I gotta go get this thing fixed now.'"
Past Struggles Lead to Critical Decision
The decision to undergo surgery wasn’t taken lightly. Spieth had considered this route as early as July but opted to push through the season in hopes that rest would be sufficient. "I didn't get it fixed maybe then, and I kind of got into some bad habits, and then as I started to swing it better a few years ago it started to kind of act up again," he remarked.
Spieth acknowledged that the injury's impact extended beyond the physical pain. The frustration of altered performance mechanics influenced his decision. "Like I said, I really didn't wanna make any excuses for myself the whole year because it wasn't hurting to hit the shot. And then I'd get into competition, and then I'd just bail. It was very strange. And so I guess it was a big enough sample size over a year, you'd think it frustrates you after a week or two, but for me, I just kind of kept thinking, 'You know, hey, this is just something mechanically I gotta fix.'"
Looking Towards Recovery and Future Competitions
Post-surgery, Spieth’s focus is on recovery, with plans to begin hitting balls again by November 2024. Despite optimism, he remains realistic about his return timeline. "Playing any events in December feels like a stretch," he mentioned. His primary aim is to ensure full recovery, taking the necessary time for diligent rehabilitation.
Spieth has been proactive in seeking advice from other athletes who have undergone similar surgeries, gathering insights to fuel his optimism. "I talked to a lot of different players who've had similar operations and a lot of guys across different sports and they're like, 'Look, one day you'll wake up and, if you're patient enough, you do the right rehab, you listen to your docs and you take your time, there'll be one day where you wake up and you're like, 'Man, I just totally forgot that there was ever an issue.' So I look forward to that day."
Encouraged by his surgeon's excitement and the prospect of improved performance post-recovery, Spieth is hopeful. "Anytime a guy who does, you know, 30,000 to 40,000 surgeries is excited about something, you know, that's reason for me to feel good about it, I guess," he stated. "In due time, it should be better than it was before." The path to recovery is clear, and Spieth is set on not just returning to his former self but coming back stronger in 2025.