Spieth out for season, will undergo wrist surgery

Jordan Spieth has decided to end his 2024 season after just one FedEx Cup playoff event, as he prepares for surgery on his left wrist—a persistent issue that has troubled him for the past 16 months. Spieth, who has been dealing with this injury since before the 2023 PGA Championship, recognized that surgery is now inevitable after trying to manage the pain through various treatments, which ultimately proved ineffective.

The injury involves a torn sheath in his left wrist that holds a tendon in place. This problem first surfaced a week before the 2023 PGA Championship, and despite his efforts to avoid surgery, including different forms of therapy, the condition did not improve. The unpredictability of the injury’s impact on his game has been a constant source of frustration for Spieth.

After finishing his round with a double bogey and a final score of 74, Spieth acknowledged the need to proceed with surgery as soon as possible. He has consulted with several experts and is relieved that, with the end of his season, he now has time on his side. Without the pressure to rush back into competition, Spieth plans to take a slow and careful approach to his recovery.

This season marked the second time that Spieth failed to advance beyond the first round of the postseason, finishing 63rd in the FedEx Cup standings and needing a top-10 finish to progress. His struggles this year stand in stark contrast to the beginning of the 2023 season when he had five top-six finishes before the injury forced him to withdraw from the Byron Nelson. Since then, he has only managed four additional top-six finishes, including a sixth-place result in a limited 20-man field at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

At the time of his injury, Spieth was ranked No. 10 in the world. However, his struggles with the injury have seen his ranking drop to No. 43 by the time he entered the St. Jude Championship. Throughout this season, Spieth missed the cut eight times in the 21 tournaments he played.

Spieth admitted that he initially tried not to make excuses for his inconsistent performances, especially since the pain didn’t always manifest during his swings. However, he now sees the clear connection between the injury and his struggles on the course. Despite the challenges, Spieth remains hopeful that surgery will bring some clarity and ultimately lead to a stronger return. He acknowledged that while the uncertainty surrounding the surgery is daunting, the process may teach him patience—a quality he admits he lacks.

Spieth reflected on what he described as the most frustrating year of his career. He admitted to putting a lot of pressure on himself, compounded by the unfortunate circumstances of his injury. Despite these setbacks, there were some positives—particularly his performance in driving, where he ranked 13th in a key statistical category. However, he noted that any situation involving ground impact exacerbated his wrist pain, severely affecting his game.

As for his future plans, Spieth has not yet scheduled the surgery and has no concrete timeline for his return. He is not eligible for The Sentry at Kapalua to start the 2025 season and may request an exemption for the Hero World Challenge in early December in the Bahamas, depending on his recovery. Until then, Spieth has no firm plans, aside from focusing on his recovery while also managing the demands of parenting two young children—a task that will undoubtedly be more challenging with one arm in recovery.

Beyond his playing career, Spieth also took on a significant leadership role by joining the PGA Tour board after Rory McIlroy’s sudden resignation last November. This came at a critical time for the tour, as it was navigating new investments, including involvement from the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Despite these added responsibilities, Spieth remains committed to his health and is focused on making a strong comeback when the time is right.