Jordan Spieth is back in action this week for the first time since the Masters, and he revealed his extended absence was due to him testing positive for Covid-19.
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Jordan Spieth revealed he was forced to miss the Valspar Championship after testing positive for Covid-19 last month. Spieth has been absent from the PGA Tour since finishing tied for third at The Masters, but he admitted he had not intended to take a month off and was scheduled to play at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. He began to feel coronavirus symptoms the week before heading to Florida and, after returning three positive tests, he self-isolated away from his family at his Texas home.
Spieth insisted he is now fit and healthy, although he is wary of his game being rusty as he returns to action in this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. He won for the first time in nearly four years at last month’s Valero Texas Open, then contended at the Masters the following week. He has six top-10 finishes in eight starts in 2021 and will once again have a chance to complete the career Grand Slam next week at Kiawah.
The AT&T Byron Nelson counts as a home game for Spieth, who grew up in the Dallas area and still lives there. He made his first career PGA Tour start as a 16-year-old high school amateur in the event in 2010, finishing T-16, his best finish in the tournament in nine career starts.
Spieth also expressed his disappointment to miss the Valspar Championship, a tournament he won in 2015 shortly before storming to victory at the Masters. He resisted the temptation to play at Quail Hollow last week as he prepares himself for four consecutive tournaments.
Spieth’s turnaround has been one of the biggest stories of the season. As the three-time major champion, who had fallen all the way to 92nd in the world in late January, has rocketed all the way to No. 28. He has seven top-15 finishes in his last eight starts, including a win at the Valero Texas Open and a tie for third in his most recent appearance at the Masters.
Next week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island will offer Spieth his fourth opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam.
