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Jordan Spieth Suddenly Withdraws From First Round of Travelers Championship

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 5:24 PM ET

It's never a good thing when a golfer has to withdraw from a tournament on its first day, which is what Jordan Spieth did on Thursday.

Spieth withdrew from the Travelers Championship mid-round this afternoon, the first time he's withdrawn from a tournament in 297 starts on the PGA Tour. The three-time major champion reportedly injured his neck on the driving range before teeing off and tried to play through the issue but couldn't.

He made it through 12 holes at five-over, but ultimately retired when the pain and discomfort became too much to bear.

"Just sat in on Jordan Spieth talking at the clubhouse before leaving TPC River Highlands. He’s genuinely disappointed," said Golfweek's David Dusek. "He woke up feeling like pain in his neck. He got treatment, but as the round went on, it got worse. He couldn’t make good swings and knew it wasn’t going to improve. Spieth had never withdrawn from an event at any level."

Despite withdrawing, Spieth will still receive last-place prize money for the tournament but won't earn any FedExCup points.

Jordan Spieth at the Riviera Country Club's 10th holeCliff Hawkins/Getty Images

Spieth is coming off a tie for 23rd at the U.S. Open at Oakmont last weekend. He also finished tied for 14th at the Masters in April but missed the cut at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow last month.

This season, Spieth has made 13 of 15 cuts and placed in the top-25 eight times with four top 10s. Spieth's best showing was a fourth-place finish at the THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in May and a tie for fourth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February.

The 31-year-old Texan is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour since the 2022 RBC Heritage.

Meanwhile, through one round at the Travelers, Scottie Scheffler leads the way at nine-under, one shot ahead of Aaron Eckroat and three in front of Wyndham Clark, Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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