B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Procedure
The First Officer was flying the approach following a lengthy ground delay for weather earlier in the day and 45 minutes of holding during the flight. A B777 was ahead of us on the approach and apparently had slowed to final approach speed 8 miles out on final after the Controller had directed them to maintain 170 Kts. until the Final Approach Fix. We complied with the Controller's directions and slowed to final approach speed when directed. Due to insufficient separation with the B777; ATC directed us to go around. The First Officer complied and the subsequent approach and landing were uneventful. The B777 did not comply with ATC instructions on airspeed. All aircraft should comply promptly to ATC instructions and advise if unable.
B737 Captain reported that Tower issued them go around instructions due to insufficient wake turbulence spacing on the final approach course.