Jordan Spieth and His Injured Wrist Are Ready to Go at the PGA Championship
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Despite limited reps and little time to sufficiently prepare, Jordan Spieth is still ready to go on Thursday morning in the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.
After playing on the back nine on Wednesday for the first time, Spieth talked about the left wrist issue that forced him out of last week’s PGA Tour event outside of Dallas and had many fans holding their breath as they waited to see if Spieth would miss the season's second major.
“I wouldn't play if I didn't think I was in good enough shape to be able to play,” Spieth said.
The 29-year-old played with good friend Justin Thomas and Tom Kim along with caddie Michael Greller, swing instructor Cameron McCormick, longtime agent Jay Danzi and his parents, Mary Christine and Shawn.
With temperatures in the 50s, Spieth wore a pullover that covered his left arm but it was clear that he was still receiving treatment and likely utilizing the tape.
“Name it, name a type of treatment, I've done just about everything,” Spieth said with a smile when discussing what was required the last week to get himself in a position to play. “I was getting treatment from them (Dr. Troy Van Biezen), laser, stem everything, a lot of cold therapy. And it's healed up, I don’t know how much, but enough to play this week.”
On Tuesday, Spieth hit shot after shot off the 9th tee on the West Course on Tuesday for 75 minutes, with the only outward signs of Spieth’s questionable left wrist came from white tape that was peering out above his golf glove and the black Kinesio tape, which is used for a variety of ailments, including treating pain from injuries.
Spieth then went out with Jon Rahm and played the front nine, with some stops and starts to get all nine holes in.
After that, Spieth sighed autographs for 20 minutes and then returned to the range to fine-tune to the extent he can before teeing it up at 8:22 a.m. on the 10th tee in Thursday’s first round with Ireland's Shane Lowry and Norway's Viktor Hovland.
“It's more like anything that I have to flick over like a high bunker shot or a high flop shot, like then those you wouldn't really have those as often as any other shot,” said Spieth on the only uncomfortable part of his game. “I just don't have the reps. I'd like to have them for a major, but I'm happy that I'm able to play because I certainly didn't think so a week ago.”
Spieth got a full range session in for the first time on Saturday and saw his speeds were meeting expectations, and then on Sunday morning when he woke his arm didn’t have any setbacks, which encouraged him that he may be able to play a tough major course.
“It's nasty stuff, there's nothing that separates this and the U.S. Open,” Spieth said of Oak Hill. “It's gnarly. Fairways are firm, narrow and the rough’s thick. As far as difficulty, feels like U.S. Open golf course and par's a nice score.”
Looking to complete the career grand slam, Spieth’s expectations are not the same as if he fully prepared, but he is not limited to the extend he can’t win.
“It's not fun if you don't think you have a chance to win, and so if I felt like I was limited in a way that would affect my chances, there'd be no reason for me to feel like playing because then I could further damage it and that's not worth it,” Spieth said. “I feel like I can get into every position with the speed that I want to be able to produce the scores. It's just a little rusty on the reps, especially up the bag.”