Months after undergoing wrist surgery that sidelined him from competition, Jordan Spieth has mounted an unexpected charge at the WM Phoenix Open. His remarkable 45-hole bogey-free streak and share of second place through three rounds mark a dramatic return for a player who, just six months ago, was under the knife.

You see, Spieth has been winless for almost three years. His last was the 2022 RBC Heritage. The main contributor to this can be his wrist. It had been nagging him for years. But it was Spieth’s 2024 that really reflected his persistent struggle, with career-low results including eight missed cuts and just three top-10 finishes.

Now, in just his second start (finished T69 at Pebble Beach) back following his surgery recovery, he finds himself in contention at TPC Scottsdale, where he has an opportunity to script a remarkable comeback story. Truly.

Jordan Spieth finds freedom in the flaws

“Oh, way ahead,” Spieth responded when asked if his comeback was proceeding on schedule at TPC Scottsdale. His candid admission about the state of his game came after putting 67 on the leaderboard. A position not many expected from him. Spieth has more patience now, he is a changed man now, after all. He understands that ups and downs are all part of the journey. “Bad days are going to happen in this process. I’m glad that today I felt a little off. I wasn’t loading right. I wasn’t getting positionally where I was getting yesterday other than maybe three or four swings the whole day.”

The numbers validate his surprising success: despite feeling technically off, Spieth ranks second in Strokes Gained: Approach for the week. His ability to score well without his best form—particularly on a day with tougher pin positions—reveals a newfound perspective. “To be able to shoot a score like this where the pins were, and they were a lot harder today, makes me feel even better because it takes a little bit of pressure off maybe trying to be perfect and coming back,” Spieth reflected.

Trailing Thomas Detry by five shots heading into Sunday, Spieth sees an opportunity in TPC Scottsdale’s back nine. “Everything changes Sunday on the back nine. And this back nine in particular, you can go 5-under on the back nine, especially even in the last six holes,” he noted, eyeing a potential comeback, and wanting to return to the winner’s circle. Winning here would probably help him justify the Genesis Invitational exemption he has received, one that has been garnering a lot of criticism. 

While acknowledging the long journey ahead, Spieth maintains perspective about his progress. “This is certainly ahead of schedule for this week. I’ve had a good history here, so we’ll see how I continue to progress on other courses, but tomorrow, I’m going to have to hit more fairways because I’m going to have to hit it closer to try to catch Thomas.” Last year, Spieth finished T6 here at the WM Phoenix Open. A year before that too.

As Spieth seeks to write his own comeback story at TPC Scottsdale, he follows in the footsteps of legends who found their renaissance in the Arizona desert.

TPC Scottsdale: Where comebacks find their wings

The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale has historically provided the perfect stage for professional golf’s most compelling comeback stories. In 2013, Phil Mickelson arrived amid whispers about a four-year victory drought, only to silence critics with a wire-to-wire performance for the ages. His opening round of 60—narrowly missing a 59—set the tone for a dominant week that culminated in a tournament record-tying 28-under-par total. That victory, his third Phoenix Open title, proved to be a harbinger of future success. Years after in 2021, Mickelson went on to capture the PGA Championship at age 50.

Even more dramatic was Johnny Miller’s 1976 Redemption. After struggling with inconsistency following his 1973 U.S. Open triumph, Miller chose the Phoenix Open to remind the golf world of his brilliance. His second-round 61 helped build an insurmountable lead, leading to a 14-stroke victory margin that stands as one of the most dominant performances in tournament history