Jordan Spieth, the acclaimed professional golfer, has announced that he will be sidelined for the remainder of 2024 following surgery on his left wrist. This decision comes after dealing with persistent discomfort that has troubled him for several years, starting in late 2017 or early 2018. Despite the pain, Spieth continued to compete, though his performance visibly suffered, particularly in 2024.
The situation escalated in May of the previous year when Spieth suffered a severe wrist dislocation due to a poolside incident involving his son. The injury was so debilitating that it forced him to withdraw from the Byron Nelson tournament the following week. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Since February 2024, Spieth experienced approximately 20 wrist dislocations, affecting his iron play significantly throughout the season. His struggle reached a tipping point when he nearly withdrew from the John Deere Classic due to another wrist dislocation.
Spieth ultimately decided that rest alone would not be sufficient to remedy his condition. "It was something that couldn't fix itself with rest, unfortunately. So that's why I ended up having to do this," Spieth explained. Though he had considered undergoing surgery in July, he chose to push through the season, hoping for an improvement that never came. Eventually, the urgency became undeniable. "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,'" he recounted.
The decision to have surgery was not taken lightly. Spieth consulted various athletes who had undergone similar procedures, gathering insights and encouragement about the road to recovery. "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," Spieth shared.
Moreover, Spieth is optimistic about the surgery's outcome, buoyed by the confidence of his medical team. "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 noted. He expects to start hitting balls again by November 2024, although participating in any events by December seems unlikely. "Playing any events in December feels like a stretch," he admitted. His sights are set on a full recovery and a fresh start in 2025.
Reflecting on his strenuous year, Spieth acknowledged that the injury affected him not just physically but mentally as well. "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.'" The constant struggle took its toll, reinforcing his decision to undergo surgery.
Spieth is no stranger to overcoming challenges, and his resolve remains unwavering. He is determined to reclaim his top form, confident that his decision will eventually lead to a stronger comeback. "In due time, it should be better than it was before," he affirmed, expressing hope and readiness for the journey ahead.
As the golfing world watches and waits, Spieth's candidness about his ordeal offers a glimpse into the resilience required at the highest levels of sports. His fans and fellow athletes alike will undoubtedly be rooting for his successful recovery and return to the green.