Jordan Spieth reveals he underwent surgery, expects to be ready for PGA Tour 2025 season

Jordan Spieth reported on X that last week he was in Vail, Colorado, to undergo surgery on his left wrist. According to his post, the surgery could resolve the problems that have affected him for more than 15 months.

The surgical procedure included the reconstruction of the sheath that supports the tendon connecting the forearm to the wrist, as well as the removal of bone fragments and the cleaning of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.

Jordan Spieth, who has been dealing with this injury since May 2023, believes that this surgical intervention will be crucial to relaunching his career in 2025, the year in which he hopes to return to competition fully recovered.

I had a procedure on my left wrist last week, as I had mentioned was the plan. The operation went smoothly and I’m grateful for the exceptional medical team and support of Annie and my family. ⁰
Focused on rest and rehab, and I look forward to returning to golf healthy and…

— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) August 31, 2024

The Impact of Jordan Spieth’s injury on 2023 and 2024 seasons

In May 2023, Jordan Spieth began to experience discomfort in his left wrist, which he initially attributed to a seemingly innocuous move with his son. However, the discomfort persisted and worsened over time. The injury had a significant impact on his putting, particularly on approach shots where a firm contact with the ground is required.

Despite a strong start to the 2023 season, with five top-six finishes, Jordan Spieth began to experience a decline in performance, particularly on approach shots, where his ranking fell to 131st. This was in stark contrast to his 13th-place ranking for driving.

These technical issues were evident in several tournaments, including the AT&T Byron Nelson, held in Jordan Spieth’s hometown of Dallas. Due to the exacerbation of his injury, Spieth was forced to withdraw from the tournament. Throughout the year, he attempted to manage the problem with rehabilitation and occasional breaks, but the pain and limitations persisted.

One of the most telling moments occurred at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, where a simple gust of wind was enough to cause the tendon to pop out of its sheath, complicating his completion of the tournament. Such incidents highlighted the severity of the injury and the need for a long-term solution.

The medical procedure and his recovery

On August 21, 2024, Jordan Spieth underwent surgery in Vail, Colorado, a town with a reputation for excellence in orthopedic procedures, particularly for high-performance athletes. The surgery, performed by a renowned medical team, lasted approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

During this time, the surgeons reconstructed the sheath holding the extensor Carpi Ulnaris (ECU) tendon, removed bone fragments, and cleaned the triangular fibrocartilage complex, a key structure for wrist stability.

The recovery period is expected to be approximately three months, during which Jordan Spieth will be required to wear a cast extending from the palm of his hand to the middle of his bicep.

“I am relieved to have made this decision and confident that it will resolve the issues I have been experiencing,” Jordan Spieth said. “It’s always difficult to predict the recovery timeline. We won’t know for several months how quickly we’ll regain full mobility and how long it will take to feel completely normal.”

Following the surgical procedure, Jordan Spieth is concentrating on his recovery and his return to competition in 2025. The surgery, while a necessary step, has forced Spieth to reevaluate his goals and face the rehabilitation process with patience, a virtue that he himself acknowledges is not his strong suit.

However, he is determined to return to competition in a stronger state of health and to overcome the problems that have affected him since 2023.

This recovery presents an additional challenge, as Jordan Spieth is left-handed for most daily tasks, except for playing golf. However, he is committed to following the rehabilitation plan to the letter, with the aim of starting putting practice in eight weeks and taking full swings in twelve weeks.