Jordan Spieth groans in agony and forced to pull out of Travelers Championship with injury
Ex-World No.1 says tee shot 'legitimately hurt' as he pulls out of tournament
CRY DAY THE 13TH Jordan Spieth groans in agony and forced to pull out of Travelers Championship with injury
JORDAN SPIETH let out an ear-piercing groan as his Travelers Championship hopes ended with agonising injury at the 13th hole.
The three-time Major winner withdrew from the £15million tournament on day one amid what he called "weird circumstances".
3
Jordan Spieth revealed he was in real pain as he withdrew
3
The Texan could be excused for taking a ride off the course
The ex-World No.1 revealed his back had earlier locked up.
The 31-year-old did all he could to battle on, having never pulled out of a tournament before.
But after struggling to five-over after 12 holes, he accompanied his 13th tee shot with a cry of pain that meant enough was enough.
So the Ryder Cup star had to exit early from the final Signature Event of the season at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
READ MORE IN GOLF
HOT SPIRS 'Breathtakingly beautiful' Paige Spiranac puts on busty display in bold outfit
Spieth understandably hitched a ride on a buggy to depart the scene.
Earlier in the round he was spotted using a muscle massager on his upper back.
But he explained his body had started to lock up even before that - during a warm-up on the ranges.
Spieth was still keen to give the tournament a go as it's a no-cut event with extra FedExCup points at stake.
3
Spieth was uncomfortable playing a 12th-hole bunker shot
Credit: Reuters
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
And he said after his unfortunate early ending: "Everything was great in my gym session, and I've been very, very excited to go out and play.
"Things have been getting better and better, and then my right scap [scapula on the back] just kind of locked — like tightened midway through the warm-up."
Watch Bob MacIntyre's classy reaction after JJ Spaun holes winning putt at US Open
Spieth said the problem moved up "all of a sudden" - then went all across his back.
He ended his practice 30 minute early for treatment from a physio before starting the opening round.
Spieth explained his loud near-grunt of anguish by saying his 13th tee shot "legitimately really hurt".
It meant he was "not going to be able to make a backswing that's even useful, and that's what happened on the [earlier] bunker shot."
The Texan has just returned from wrist surgery but insisted his new injury was a surprise.
Spieth began the event at 37th in the season's rankings - knowing that the top 70 in early August go into the FedExCup Playoffs and the top 50 make next year's Signature Events.
He said his new setback was "incredibly frustrating" as he entered the Travelers Championship "very confident".
Spieth added:" Everything I had done in practice and the pro-am showed me it's going to be a really good event.
"It's just a very weird circumstance. It's disappointing ... we're having a baby here in a couple weeks, so I'll have some time off now, obviously, to get healthy.
"But hopefully, after a few days, I go through the right process to just get right back to where I was."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Inspirational honorary graduates celebrated at Stirling University's summer graduation
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid, dedicated volunteer Lynda Morrison and events supremo Paul Bush OBE will receive honorary degrees at next week's summer graduation at Stirling University. Margot, a Swedish parliamentarian who pioneered the world's first feminist foreign policy and is a passionate advocate for the environment, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her outstanding contribution to protecting the environment and championing women's rights at Wednesday's ceremony. Across her illustrious political career, Margot has held a number of senior roles including serving as the first ever Vice President of the European Commission, the first United Nations Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders Ministerial Initiative. The same day, Lynda Morrison, who has volunteered 20 years of her life to helping shape the delivery of social work and nursing education through the University of Stirling's Service User and Carer Group (UNITY), will receive an honorary Master of Arts degree. She will be recognised for her long and meritorious voluntary service to social work and social work education, and to improving the lives of service users nationally and internationally. The UNITY group, which Lynda was instrumental in setting up in 2005, has attracted national and international recognition for being one of the first to involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of teaching to social work and nursing students. On Thursday, Paul Bush OBE, the former director of events for VisitScotland who played a vital role in bringing major spectacles including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and UEFA Euro 2020 to Scotland, will receive an Honorary Doctorate. He will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to sport and to the events industry in the country. He is a previous chief executive of Scottish Swimming and, while in that role, worked closely with the University of Stirling in developing the state-of-the-art National Swimming Academy. Alongside the facility, he built a professional coaching and performance management structure for the sport which led to significant and continuing international success. Paul will be joined by Nicky Reid, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust, who will also be made a Doctor of the University for her outstanding contribution to charity and exceptional leadership qualities. Nicky achieved a Film, Media and Sociology degree from the University of Stirling in 2007 and went on to hold the position of Learning Centre Manager at Falkirk Football Club. Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: 'Summer graduation is always a special highlight in the university calendar, and we are delighted that those celebrating next week will be joined by four inspiring role models. 'Each of our honorary graduates has made a lasting impact in their fields, contributing in powerful and enduring ways to society. We are proud to recognise their achievements and know that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the University.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Astonishing Bob MacIntyre moment of self awareness leaves golf's best commentator awestruck
MacIntyre has minerals says Tour mate and will deliver big-time at Ryder Cup Brandel Chamblee reckons Bob MacIntyre's drone move was moment was the knew the Scottish star was set to join the elite. The Oban hero has rocketed up the world standings and taken another huge step in is career after a brilliant runner-up finish at the US Open. MacIntyre was denied at the death at Oakmont when victor JJ Spaun holed a monster putt on the final green of the tournament to snatch the title. The Tartan star's response to the heartbreak was to applaud and that, in itself, brought him a new army of fans with Chamblee, an ex-Tour pro and now respected TV broadcaster, blown away at the levels of sporstmanship shown. But Chamblee has pointed back to an incident during MacIntyre's run towards a maiden PGA Tour win in Canada 12 months ago as the time when he could see for himself that the kid was destined for glory. MacIntyre took issue with an on-course drone buzzing above his head as he took shots in his final round and ordered its removal before going to lift the trophy. On the performance and applause at Oakmont, Chamblee said: 'What a moment that was. What a phenomenal round of golf, almost good enough to win a US Open and to see him react that way. Look, the average Tour pro three putts more often from 32 feet than they make it, so your odds are more likely that you are going to three putt from 32 feet than you are going to make it. 64 feet is twice that. So Robert, you're sitting there, you're thinking: He's probably got a 10 per cent chance of three putting this, Maybe more. I've got a chance, I'm still in this. Then he makes it and his initial reaction is to applaud him. That's the height of sportsmanship right there. Can't say enough great things about Robert McIntyre. 'He got up on 17 and, not unlike JJ Spaun, and hit a fabulous tee shot. I think I heard him say, be right, or be the right club. And I thought, golly. And then he striped it on 18 as well, so I can't say enough nice things about him. I was a fan before. I'm a bigger fan now. I'll never watch him again without thinking about that [applauding] moment.' Speaking on the Sky Sports golf podcast, Chamblee then gave his Canada recollection and added: 'There was a moment last year when he was contending in the Canadian Open, and he eventually won it, where I was so impressed with his ability in the moment because the drones were bothering him. You remember this? Look, drones are a thing and everybody likes them, I like them and they're great, but for him to have the clear-headedness to back away and say: I'm not hitting this shot until you move that drone, I thought that just spoke volumes about his belief. And look, it's a trend, i's so easy just to say, everybody's doing this, I'm going to look bad if I persist and say I'm not hitting this shot. No, he didn't. He didn't do it in a mean way at all, he moved the drone, and he hit it, and he went on to win. And then he won the Scottish Open. Those were great moments. MacIntyre's fellow pro Matt Wallace also poured praise onto the Scot during the show and said: 'Yeah, he's got minerals. He's not afraid to win as we've seen. I think the win in Canada really gave him a belief. When you get that win amongst the crowd that you're against, you can go: Well, I've done it. I can win anywhere now. And so that was just another notch in his career that he's going to get into. 'He's a phenomenal, phenomenal ball-striker, underrated ball-striker, probably. Stats will show some things, but from a pure ball-striking perspective, he gets club on ball out of the middle very, very often. We've got the same putting coach. I know it's been part of his weakness where he's trying to improve on that a lot and the guy's ballsy. It's always nice to be able to do that in the moment and he wasn't shying away. He produced at the end.' MacIntyre's display has rocketed him up the Ryder Cup points standings and he looks set to play for Europe against United States in September at Bethpage having made a winning debut in Rome. Wallace has a bold prediction on New York as regards the Scot as he said: 'Just on the Ryder Cup, I watched them in the last one with Rosie [Justin Rose] in Rome and Bobby was kind of a little bit shaky, which is obvious. Rosie really helped him along. Trust me, Bobby McIntyre will deliver at this Ryder Cup because he isn't afraid of anyone now.'
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Rory McIlroy explains his frosty stance against journalists after declaring he has 'earned the right to do whatever I want' despite butting heads with reporters
Rory McIlroy has explained his frosty stance against journalists after skipping media duties and insisting he has earned the right to 'do whatever I want'. Masters champion McIlroy previously stressed that professional golfers are 'well within our rights' to snub interviews and openly admitted he was 'annoyed' by reports his driver had failed a legality test during the US PGA Championship. He did not speak to reporters after each of his four rounds at the tournament, saying a combination of tiredness, poor play and his frustration with the leak around his equipment contributed to his decision, and his behaviour was criticised. McIlroy finally broke his silence at the US Open and in his tense first exchange with journalists since winning the Masters and completing the sensational career Grand Slam, he declared: 'I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want'. The 36-year-old did, however, dodge interviews at Oakmont for the first two rounds. In contrast, he was content to engage with the press after enjoying a strong start at the Travelers Championship, where he finished the opening round without a bogey. 'I'm not a journalist. I don't know,' said McIlroy. 'Report the birdies and bogeys, I guess. And obviously you have to - the storylines sort of write themselves for the most part. But yeah, I certainly see the need for it and see the need for the platform. 'Like, I've never argued that. But I just think nowadays there's so many different ways to consume sports and entertainment. 'It certainly isn't the only avenue to get your sports news and information.' McIlroy has also warned players will continue to turn down media requests as long as it is not mandatory, stating the relationship is a 'two-way street'. 'From a responsibility standpoint, I understand, but if we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys and we could just go on our phones and go on social media and we could talk about our round and do it our own way,' said McIlroy. 'We understand that's not ideal for you guys and there's a bigger dynamic at play here. I talk to the media a lot and I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way street. 'We understand the benefit that comes from you being here. But I've been beating this drum for a long time. 'If they [golf officials] want to make it mandatory that's fine, but in our rules it says it's not and until the day when it's maybe written into regulations, you're going to have guys skip from time to time and that's well within our rights.'
