"Spieth Mystery"... "Where Has He Gone?"

It is rare to see his face these days. This refers to Jordan Spieth of the United States, who once held the world number one golf ranking. Although Spieth still competes on the PGA Tour, his poor performance means he is seldom featured on television broadcasts. Once among the greatest players of his era, Spieth now finds himself in a position where he must worry about retaining his tour card, and his world ranking has dropped to 61st.

Known as the "Texas Boy," Spieth was once a star who dominated the PGA Tour. He is a top-tier player with 13 career victories, including three major championships, having claimed the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship between 2015 and 2017. He also excelled in international team competitions such as the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and was widely regarded as a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Jordan Spieth has not won a tournament since the RBC Heritage in April 2022, marking four years without a victory. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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If Spieth wins the PGA Championship, he will complete the career Grand Slam by capturing all four major titles. He would become the seventh player in history to achieve this, following Rory McIlroy last year. Spieth also ranks ninth in career earnings, with $67,368,494, and has won Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and the money title awards.

Born in 1993, Spieth was once considered a player with hardly any weaknesses. He excelled in the combination of driver, irons, and putter, with putting skills that were especially outstanding-often compared to Tiger Woods during his prime. With his unique routine of looking at the hole rather than the ball during short putts, Spieth amassed 13 championship trophies.

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Spieth has been known as a player who quickly rebounds even during slumps. Above all, his diligence stands out. He is recognized as one of the hardest-working golfers on the PGA Tour and is often described as a "model student golfer." Spieth is also well-known for his devotion to his nine-year-old younger sister Ellie, who has a congenital developmental disorder. Spieth has said, "Seeing Ellie naturally humbles me. She is a great source of inspiration for me."

However, after a stellar run since making his PGA Tour debut in 2013, Spieth has not won a single tournament since his 13th career victory at the RBC Heritage in April 2022, marking four years without a win. Recently, some have even described him as an ordinary player who is far removed from contending for titles. In the 2024 FedEx Cup rankings, he has dropped to 80th place and has lost his eligibility for signature events, which are reserved for the top 50 players. He is now competing in tournaments through sponsor exemptions, which has drawn criticism.

There was no clear sign of a rebound last year either. Spieth participated in 19 tournaments but finished in the top 10 only four times. This year, his situation is even worse. In eight tournaments, he has not recorded a single top-10 finish. His best results were a tie for 11th at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Valspar Championship last month. If this trend continues, even maintaining his regular tour card is uncertain.

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The primary reason for his struggles is the condition of his wrist. An injury in 2017 affected his swing, and although he endured a lengthy period of rehabilitation, he failed to make a full recovery. Despite various treatments and medical examinations, he continued to experience recurring pain after rounds, even if he felt fine during play. Ultimately, he underwent surgery on his left wrist ahead of last season.

Spieth has yet to return to full fitness. His shot accuracy has declined. While his average driving distance this year is a solid 306.70 yards (48th), his fairway hit percentage is only 56.25% (109th), and his greens-in-regulation rate stands at 65.19% (98th). Even his previously strong short game and putting have faltered. He is averaging 1.741 putts per hole (68th), which falls short of expectations.

Jordan Spieth underwent wrist surgery after the 2024 season, but he has not been able to show his previous form. Photo by AP News Agency

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