Jordan Spieth Returns to PGA Tour After Wrist Surgery

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Jordan Spieth made his first PGA Tour start of the season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Wednesday, marking his return to competitive golf after undergoing wrist surgery. The 13-time PGA Tour winner, who has been sidelined since August 2023 due to a lingering wrist injury, expressed cautious optimism about his comeback.

“It feels good,” Spieth said during a pre-tournament press conference. “I did it the Wednesday after Memphis, so it’s been quite a while now. I was planning on making a start before this, but I just hadn’t gotten enough on-course reps in.” Spieth first injured his wrist in May 2023 while playing with his son, Sammy, and aggravated the injury later that year, leading to a diagnosis of ulnar nerve damage.

Despite the setback, Spieth continued to play through the pain, even finishing last year’s RBC Heritage after a tendon in his wrist “popped out” during a bunker shot. However, his performance suffered, with only three top-10 finishes and a career-high eight missed cuts. After failing to qualify for the BMW Championship, Spieth underwent surgery to address the issue.

The recovery process was deliberate, with Spieth taking advice from athletes in other sports. “No one’s ever come back too late from a surgery,” he said, emphasizing the importance of patience. He began his rehabilitation with Nerf balls and gradually worked his way back to full swings. “I wake up, it’s a little tight still, but it’s nothing that can do any damage anymore,” Spieth added.

Now 31, Spieth is focused on both short-term and long-term goals. “Shortest term is to feel like I get through these three weeks and I feel as good or better than I did when I started,” he said. “And then maybe a lofty goal this year would be to make the Ryder Cup team.” Currently ranked 65th on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list, Spieth acknowledged the challenge of earning a spot on the team but remains determined to prove himself.

Spieth’s return comes at a critical time for the PGA Tour, which has seen a slow start to its season. With stars like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy also making their season debuts at Pebble Beach, the Tour is banking on Spieth’s resurgence to reignite fan interest. “I think I still don’t need to change a whole lot,” Spieth said. “Getting healthy and then getting some confidence is key.”

As Spieth tees off at Pebble Beach, he remains realistic about his expectations. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m in the top 10 entering Sunday here, but my expectation is to manage patience early on,” he said. For Spieth, the journey back to the top of professional golf begins with one shot at a time.