Jordan Spieth to Miss Remainder of 2024 Season Following Wrist Surgery
Jordan Spieth has announced that he will be out for the rest of the 2024 season due to surgery on his left wrist. This decision comes after several challenging years dealing with a persistent wrist issue that began in late 2017 or early 2018. Despite the continuous discomfort, the celebrated golfer admirably continued to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
The latest and most severe setback occurred in May last year when Spieth suffered a severe wrist dislocation during a poolside incident with his son. This incident forced Spieth to withdraw from the Byron Nelson tournament shortly thereafter. Reflecting on the incident, Spieth shared, "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.'"
Throughout the 2024 season, Spieth endured approximately 20 dislocations, significantly impacting his iron play. His persistence and determination were evident as he continued to compete, almost withdrawing from the John Deere Classic due to the recurring problem. Despite managing to push through the pain, Spieth eventually recognized that rest alone would not resolve the issue. "It was something that couldn't fix itself with rest, unfortunately. So that's why I ended up having to do this," he explained.
The decision for surgery was not made lightly. Spieth had considered undergoing the procedure in July but chose to push through the season in hopes of achieving satisfactory performance. "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 admitted.
Spieth's optimism shines through despite the setback. He expects to start hitting balls again in November 2024, although playing any events in December 2024 seems unlikely. "Playing any events in December feels like a stretch," Spieth acknowledged. His sights are set on a full recovery and returning to competition in 2025.
The emotional and physical toll of the injury has been significant. Spieth revealed that the injury's impact went beyond physical pain, affecting his overall performance and mental state. "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.'"
Spieth has sought advice from various athletes who have undergone similar surgeries, providing him with comfort and hope for a full 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.
His decision to undergo surgery was bolstered by the confidence and enthusiasm of his surgeon. Spieth noted, "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 remains hopeful that, in due time, his wrist will be better than it was before. "In due time, it should be better than it was before," Spieth asserted.
As Spieth embarks on the road to recovery, the sports world eagerly awaits his return to the course. His resilience and determination have been inspiring, and there is palpable anticipation for what he will achieve in the coming years once fully healed.