Jordan Spieth, one of golf’s prominent figures, has announced his anticipated absence for the entire 2024 season following surgery on his left wrist. This decision comes after years of grappling with a persistent wrist issue that originated around late 2017 or early 2018 and was severely aggravated by numerous dislocations this past year.
The Origin of the Issue
Spieth's wrist complications were not instantaneous but developed gradually. Competing despite consistent discomfort became second nature to him. However, the situation took a drastic turn when Spieth suffered a significant wrist dislocation in May of the prior year due to an incident by his pool involving his son. This injury forced him to withdraw from the Byron Nelson tournament the following week.
"Playing any events in December feels like a stretch," Spieth remarked, reflecting on the severity of his injury. It wasn't until numerous dislocations—nearly 20 since February 2024—impacted his game significantly, particularly his iron play, that he decided surgery was the only viable solution. “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 Road to Surgery
Despite the unrelenting pain and interruptions to his game, Spieth nearly opted for surgery in July. However, with determination typical of his character, he chose to push through the season. "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," Spieth noted, revealing a history of coping rather than curing.
The wrist issues culminated in a scenario Spieth could no longer ignore. He recounted a telling moment when he realized the inevitability of surgery: "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.'"
Looking Forward to Recovery
Jordan Spieth's commitment to his sport and his hope for recovery was evident as he spoke about his engagement with fellow athletes who underwent similar procedures. While the physical pain was a primary concern, the mental and emotional strain of his condition also weighed heavily on him. "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," Spieth shared, providing insight into the complexity of his experience.
Nevertheless, Spieth remains optimistic. Conversations with athletes from various sports have provided him with a pathway to hope. He reminisced about the reassuring words he received: "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."
Future Prospects
Spieth’s timeline for recovery is cautiously optimistic. He anticipates resuming practice by November 2024 but acknowledges that participating in any events in December 2024 is unlikely. "Playing any events in December feels like a stretch," he admitted, demonstrating a realistic outlook.
Spieth’s recent surgery was a significant step towards putting years of pain and compromise behind him. As he succinctly put it, "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." His words reflect a man who, despite a challenging road ahead, remains hopeful for a future on the greens, stronger and more resilient than before. "In due time, it should be better than it was before," Spieth concluded, signaling a readiness to embrace the journey of recovery.
While 2024 will be a year of rehabilitation and patience for Jordan Spieth, the golf world eagerly anticipates his return. As Spieth looks forward to 2025, fans and fellow athletes alike will watch keenly, drawing inspiration from his resilience and dedication to the sport.