Jordan Spieth’s tough run of health issues showed no signs of easing at the Travelers Championship, where he withdrew after the opening round due to a back injury.
Coming off a lengthy stretch trying to regain form following a wrist injury, Spieth looked uncomfortable in Connecticut and opted to pull out after 18 holes.
The 30-year-old had hoped to keep building up competitive rounds, but the move to withdraw was made before things got any worse, which spaked debate on social media.
Michael Kim backs Jordan Spieth decision as he ‘gave full effort’
PGA Tour pro Michael Kim didn’t hear a word of complaint about the Spieth withdrawal – and posted to Twitter that he felt the three-time major champion had every right to compete if he was willing.
Some fans on social media questioned why Spieth started the event rather than pulling out earlier, suggesting he ‘wasted a spot’, but Kim defended him, saying: “It’s his right to do whatever he wants. He gave it his full effort. Not much more you can ask imo.”
Jordan Spieth’s return to golf from injury has been overshadowed by disappointing results, contrary to the kind of form he was hoping to show coming back.
In fact, Spieth’s only real strong tournament came at The Masters, where he finished inside the top 10.
That hasn’t changed since either, with his calendar year struggling to really hit any heights. It’s a situation he’s spoken about this year, touching on his mentality and performance as a whole.
“Maybe 2018, 2019, but (this is) the worse as far as results for myself that I’ve gone through,” Spieth said recently. “So, just continue to work through it and understand that there’s months and years and a career still ahead. So, kind of looking at more big-picture than I would have early in my career.“
Still, once again, outside the main stretch of The Masters, it’s been a bleak season for the Texan with nothing more than a few top-15 finishes in the lead-up to Connecticut.
It’s his last chance to be fit for the final major of the year, with questions already arising as to whether he should risk another injury setback.
- READ MORE: Scottie Scheffler reacts to Collin Morikawa’s unusual glove tactic at the Travelers Championship
Growing concerns about Spieth’s mental state amid injuries
Jordan Spieth still holds a strong record when it comes to injuries, not being an athlete who is known for being absent or missing tournaments. It comes down to his style of play, being much more focused on precision rather than explosive power or speed.
PGA Tour coach Sean Foley recently touched on this, explaining:
“Jordan Spieth has stayed away from injuries in his career because he isn’t so powerful.
“Usually, it is the more powerful players that get knocked down; the body takes a lot of force these days.”
Despite this, however, injuries always become a mental hurdle, with consistent issues derailing not only your career but also your confidence getting out there and performing.
For now, all Spieth can do is rest and try to beat the clock ahead of The Open at Portrush next month.
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