Jordan Spieth withdraws for the first time in 297 career PGA Tour starts

There’s a first for everything. Jordan Spieth was hoping it wouldn’t come this week at the Travelers Championship, however, but after making five bogeys in the first 12 holes Thursday during the first round, he had to withdraw because of a neck injury.

It marked the first time in 297 career PGA Tour starts that the three-time major champion had to withdraw from an event.

Spieth, 31, met with reporters after the WD and was genuinely disappointed that he could not continue. He said that he woke up feeling pain in his neck and received treatment at TPC River Highlands when he first got there. It felt better for a bit but got progressively worse as he continued to play. The official reason from the PGA Tour said it was neck and upper back pain for Spieth.

Bogeys at Nos. 1, 6 and 7 showed that Spieth was not at his best. He followed with bogeys at 10 and 12, the last of which was the last hole he played.

"It's a weird situation with an elevated event and no cut and important points and stuff," Spieth said. "It's like, well, what's the downside if I can finish of just finishing even if it's ugly, and then I hit my tee shot on 13, and it legitimately really hurt."

This season, Spieth has collected eight top-25 finishes and has only missed two cuts in 15 starts. He has been playing a heavy schedule the past few months. This was his 10th start in the last 12 weeks.

"I've never withdrawn from an event ever anywhere at any level, so I didn't really know what to do," Spieth said. "It just became too much. I didn't see it turning around until probably Saturday. These things kind of last an extra day, and no matter what I was going to do, it was just going to be—I don't know, it's unfortunate. I've been doing everything right, and I think it was just very random."