ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jordan Spieth is at Oak Hill practicing for the PGA Championship this week, but his status for Thursday’s opening round appears to be at least in some question because of the left wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from last week’s Byron Nelson in his hometown of Dallas.
Spieth on Tuesday hit shots at the practice range for more than an hour before going out to play nine holes with Jon Rahm.
He did so with his left wrist heavily taped and with black Kinesio tape running from his wrist to his elbow.
Spieth — who’s won a Masters, U.S. Open and a British Open — needs to win a PGA to complete a rare career Grand Slam.
Since his 2017 win at the British, if he’s able to compete this week, it’ll be his sixth try at the slam.
Despite going winless in the previous five PGAs, Spieth has played well with top-three finishes in 2015 and 2019.
Spieth’s performance after 36 rounds total in 10 PGAs ranks sixth all time in lowest scoring average (70.42) among all golfers who have played a minimum of 20 rounds.
He’s scheduled to be grouped with Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland for the first two rounds this week.
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Among the marquee first and second groupings include Matthew Fitzpatrick, Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm at 8:33 a.m.
Thursday and 1:58 p.m. Friday; Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Gary Woodland a 8 a.m. and 1:25 p.m.; Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa at 8:11 a.m. and 1:36 p.m.; Patrick Cantlay, Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson at 1:58 p.m. and 8:33 a.m.
Others include Keegan Bradley, Jason Day and Bryson DeChambeau at 9:06 a.m. and 2:31 p.m.; Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton and Dustin Johnson at 1:47 p.m. and 8:22 a.m.; Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young and Hideki Matsuyama at 1:25 p.m. and 8 a.m.; and Adam Scott, Max Homa and Tony Finau at 1:36 p.m. and 8:11 a.m.
McIlroy, who’s wife, Erica, is from the Rochester area, was asked if he’s become a Bills fan.
“It certainly makes it easier to root for the Bills when Josh Allen is throwing the football,’’ he said. “I didn’t know a ton about this part of the world pre-2014, 2013, I guess, the first time we played here. I’ve only had one garbage plate [a local favorite] in my life. I haven’t went overboard with that.
“I’ve spent summers here, I’ve spent falls here, I’ve spent a few Christmases here. I really love the seasons. We live in Florida. We don’t get that. So it’s nice to come up here and see the leaves change in October and have the snow at Christmastime.’’
McIlroy said he hasn’t yet met Allen, saying, “I know he’s a big golf fan. I’d obviously love to meet him.’’
