Jordan Spieth, the accomplished golfer and three-time major champion, was forced to withdraw from the Travelers Championship on Thursday after experiencing significant discomfort in his shoulder. Spieth didn’t arrive at his fateful choice until he had battled his way through 13 holes. He was 5 over par and hadn’t made a single birdie.
Spieth’s demons emerged as soon as he stepped up to the tee on the 13th hole. Pretty much right off the bat, he was hit with a pain so acute that it rendered him unable to proceed. He told playing partner Luke Clanton about his situation before leaving the course by cart. The tightness in Spieth’s shoulder blade had reached a point where he could not make a swing without severe pain.
Prior to the Travelers Championship, Spieth had been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride at the U.S. Open. He ended up tying for 23rd-place finish at Hilton Head. He was similarly just outside of the mix at the Memorial Tournament, where he finished T7. It’s been easy to forget that Spieth just had a good summer. Unfortunately, his shoulder injury limited his ability to participate at a high level this week.
Spieth expressed his feelings about the withdrawal, noting, “I’ve never withdrawn from an event ever anywhere at any level, so I didn’t really know what to do. It just became too much.” This would be a first for the golfer, who has cultivated a name as an unshakeable presence on the course.
While Spieth still has some ways to go, he is staying focused on the future. He’s decided against playing any additional tournaments before The Open Championship. He stated, “I didn’t see it turning around until probably Saturday. These things kind of last an extra day, and no matter what I was going to do, it was just going to be … I don’t know, it’s unfortunate.” Moreover, his wife is about to deliver their third child — any day now. We expect him to spend more time with family and continue his and their recovery efforts.
This will be the case for this elevated event, because Spieth noted that this is not business usually. First, he argued that the tournament lacks a strong 36-hole cut. He remarked, “It’s a weird situation with an elevated event and no cut and important points,” highlighting the complexities athletes face when balancing health and competitive aspirations.
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