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With season over, Jordan Spieth plans ‘relatively common’ wrist surgery soon

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

While he did not want to divulge where and when he will undergo surgery on his troubled left wrist, Jordan Spieth hinted Sunday after completing a two-over 72 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship that the procedure is imminent.

Because recovery for the operation takes roughly 12 weeks, and Spieth said he is eyeing an outside chance to be ready in time for the Hero World Challenge in December—providing he remains among the top 50 in the world—it appears that the Dallas resident has to have surgery by the end of the month.

Spieth has been troubled by the malady since withdrawing from CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May 2023. The issue is a weak tendon sheath that holds the tendon in place. The tendon can get displaced while doing routine things, though it has not caused discomfort while playing. Spieth said a surgeon has to “recreate the tendon sheath so that it doesn’t dislocate.”

“I think it’s relatively common,” the three-time major winner said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people. My understanding is it’s like you could maybe chip and put or putt after eight weeks, but after 12 weeks you kind of come back … I think it’s rehab after six, so I think they say 12 weeks. But if I don’t have a reason to try to rush back, which I don’t, I’ll probably just take it as slow as I can.”

Spieth, 31, finished the opening FedEx Cup playoff event on the PGA Tour tied for 68th place in the 70-man field at nine-over 289, and will not advance to next week’s BMW Championship in Colorado. He is 67th in the points standings with no chance of falling outside the top 125 that are exempt for next season.

Playing with Max Homa in the first pairing of the day, Spieth’s final hole of the tournament featured two shots in the water hazard left of the fairway at the 18th hole. He converted from 31 feet for a double bogey.