Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Will Zalatoris to miss 2027 season for back surgery
Will Zalatoris will miss the 2027 PGA Tour season to have spinal-fusion surgery for ongoing back problems.
The 30-year-old American said he plans to play in the Austin Championship in Texas in November before the operation.
He competed in only four PGA Tour events in 2026, with injuries limiting his season.
This will be his third major back surgery since 2023, following a microdiscectomy and a disc replacement.
Zalatoris rose to prominence with strong finishes in major tournaments and won the 2022 St. Jude Championship, his only PGA Tour victory.
The operation is intended to address back issues that have disrupted his career for several years.
He hopes to return in 2028, potentially through the PGA Tour's Challenger Series, if his recovery goes as planned.
Will Zalatoris says he will miss the entire 2027 season while recovering from spinal-fusion surgery.
The 30-year-old plans to have the procedure in November to address ongoing back problems.
He has played in only four PGA Tour events in 2026 and last competed at the Valero Texas Open in April.
Zalatoris plans to play in the Austin Championship in November before the surgery.
He said he may return in 2028 to play in the Challenger Series if his recovery goes as planned.
- Who
- Will Zalatoris, a 30-year-old American professional golfer.
- What
- He will miss the 2027 season and undergo spinal-fusion surgery for ongoing back problems.
- When
- The surgery is planned for November 2026; he expects to miss all of 2027.
- Where
- He announced the news at the Austin Championship media day in Texas.
- Why
- He said the surgery is intended to correct lingering back issues.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zalatoris had a microdiscectomy.
He had surgery to address back problems, including a disc replacement.
He competed at the Valero Texas Open and said he reinjured his back there.
He announced he would undergo spinal-fusion surgery and miss the 2027 season.
He is scheduled to play in the Austin Championship before surgery.
He said he may return to play in the Challenger Series if his recovery goes as planned.
- Planned surgery
- Spinal fusion in November 2026
- Season missed
- Entire 2027 PGA Tour season
- Events played in 2026
- Four PGA Tour tournaments
- Next planned start
- Austin Championship, Nov. 12-15
- Possible return
- 2028 Challenger Series
2 sources
What people are saying
I've been through four years of hell, so it's good to have something that will hopefully correct it
It's not something you want to do, but when you have three tour physical therapists tell you it needs to be done at some time, you go ahead and do it
It looks like I can come back in 2028 and play in the Challenger Series if everything works like it should