This weekend, Jordan Spieth will not be participating in the 2025 BMW Championship, leaving fans concerned about the ongoing difficulties in his professional performance. The 2015 FedExCup Champion failed to break into the top 50 of the 2025 FedExCup Rankings, causing him to miss out on both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship. Gary Player, the retired South African golf legend, recently spoke openly about what he believes is behind Spieth’s downturn.
Overview of Spieth’s Career Achievements and Recent Challenges
Jordan Spieth’s career includes 13 PGA Tour victories, with 11 of those wins earned between the 2013 John Deere Classic and the 2017 Open Championship. His short game is highly regarded; The Golf Journal once called him
one of the best to ever hold a wedge.
Despite his early success, Spieth has faced a series of setbacks in recent years.
In May 2023, Spieth suffered a wrist injury that required surgery, leading to a significant time away from competition. After a three-month hiatus at the end of 2025, he made his comeback at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. During the 2025 Wyndham Championship, Spieth expressed optimism about his future, saying,
Next year’s going to be a really good year for me, I can feel it,
Spieth said.
It’s all coming along. I’ll be healthy, and just structurally putting, the mechanics are all getting really, really close. One good offseason should get me nailed down to where I could be as good as I’ve been. That’s my goal.
Nonetheless, his last win remains the 2022 RBC Heritage, and Spieth’s position in the Official World Golf Ranking has slipped to No. 51. Off the course, he has enjoyed personal milestones, recently welcoming his child Sully Spieth with his wife, Annie.
Gary Player Critiques Coaching as a Key Factor
In a candid conversation with The Golf Supply on YouTube, Gary Player offered his analysis of what has contributed to Spieth’s struggles, placing particular blame on coaching methods in America. He remarked,
You know, there’s a tremendous lack of knowledge with golf,
Player said.
I would say in America today, the golf pros that are teaching know less about golf. They’re way less — and they got all the equipment, the technology. But I see them teaching golfers — they’re teaching golfers to do this [bowed wrist] at the top.
Player demonstrated the flawed swing technique by swinging a club in the air and warned that adopting such a move means a player’s game is compromised.
While Spieth was the main focus, Player also mentioned other prominent golfers such as Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler as examples of players negatively affected by poor coaching. Despite his criticisms, Player expressed significant admiration for Spieth’s abilities, calling him “a competitor,” “a wonderful young man,” and
“the best player in the world.”
He believes Spieth’s challenges stemmed from being taught incorrect fundamentals rather than a lack of talent.
Player also praised Spieth’s tactical approach and proficiency in his short game, a skill that has long been a hallmark of his success.
The Significance of Coaching on Spieth’s Future Prospects
Gary Player’s insights shed light on a crucial factor that could explain Jordan Spieth’s career slump. The connection between flawed coaching methods and declining performance suggests that addressing these fundamentals might be key to Spieth regaining his earlier form. As he continues aiming for a strong comeback, the role of knowledgeable coaching and refining technique will likely be pivotal.
With Spieth’s youth and competitive mindset, combined with his own stated goals for improvement, many remain hopeful that he can reverse this downward trajectory. The golfing world will closely watch his progress as he attempts to climb back up the rankings and return to the winner’s circle.