Jordan Spieth makes major career decision to revive Grand Slam hopes

Jordan Spieth is considering having wrist surgery after the PGA Tour season wraps up, as he aims to bounce back from a slump and complete his career Grand Slam. Once the golden boy of golf with and ranked No. 1 in the world, Spieth has seen his form dip dramatically, now sitting at 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking. The 31-year-old Texan, who clinched his first major at the Masters in 2015 and added the US Open and Open Championship to his tally in 2017, has struggled to maintain that blistering pace, securing only two PGA Tour wins since his triumph at Royal Birkdale.

Spieth’s quest for the elusive PGA Championship title the missing piece of his grand slam puzzle has been hindered by a persistent tendon injury in his left wrist. This setback has notably affected his wedge play and short game, which are typically his strongest suits.

Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s opening round of the Wyndham Championship, Spieth acknowledged the frustration and the need to take action.

“It’s been a frustrating year because it’s been maybe my best driving year ever, and then the clubs that I make the most impact into the ground with, which normally are my bread and butter, have been pretty off,” Spieth admitted. “It’s not hurting, but subconsciously it’s hard not to look at the numbers and think this isn’t a coincidence.

“I’ve been taking trips out as well as being in contact with a lot of doctors, getting it scanned again and trying to figure out what the next move is. Probably going to have to do something about it this offseason.

“I’m going to pretend nothing’s happening, fully trust it given that I’ll be able to get it fixed, and I know there’s a lot of golfers that have had similar situations and come back better than ever. I like to think hopefully I have 10 to 15 years of prime and some of my best golf left, so I’ll be optimistic about the process.

“But I’m not quite sure exactly what I’ll do and where I’ll do it, but unfortunately something kind of has to get done. And I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Just trying to take my time making sure things are done right at the right time.”

Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only players who have won all four majors, with Spieth chasing alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele for that coveted achievement.

Each man has their eyes set on a different prize with McIlroy needing just the Masters to round off his set, despite a decade away from major victories. On the other hand, Schauffele has finally fulfilled his promise as one of the best talents in the game, claiming his first two major wins this season including the PGA Championship and the Claret Jug at Royal Troon in Scotland last month.

Should Spieth have surgery after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs next month, he would likely be ready for the start of the 2025 major season at Augusta National in April. However, his recovery and rehab would certainly impact his preparation heading into the height of the season. The PGA Championship will take place at Quail Hollow one month after The Masters.

Discussing his aim for a grand slam in 2022, Spieth said: “I don’t think I talk about it much with other people. But it’s certainly at this point, given having won the other three, it’s an elephant in the room for me. It’s a goal of mine.”