Will Zalatoris, former Masters runner-up and world No. 7, has confirmed he is expected to miss all of the 2027 PGA Tour season due to a back injury. The 30-year-old American is set to undergo spinal surgery in November in an attempt to overcome his ongoing back problems.
Third Surgery Since 2023
This will be the third time Zalatoris has gone under the knife since 2023. He reportedly had a microdiscectomy in 2023 and an artificial disc replacement two years later. This year, he returned to competition but has been hit by injury again after just four starts on the PGA Tour.
Speaking ahead of the Austin Championship, where he will compete, Zalatoris revealed his latest surgery to the media.
“I’ve been through four years of hell, so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it,” he said. “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.”
Career Highlights and Setbacks
Zalatoris was one of the most highly rated players coming through the tour. He won his first PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Championship in 2022. Just a year earlier, he finished as runner-up in the Masters, behind winner Hideki Matsuyama.
He added: “It’s all connected together, and I just want to get it fixed. I can’t promise anybody anything because of what I’ve been through. I’m the oldest 30-year-old you will ever meet.”
Plans for Comeback
Zalatoris revealed that he aggravated his back problem at the Velcro Texas Open in April this year, his most recent competitive tournament. After playing in the Austin Championship, he will undergo surgery in late November.
The 30-year-old has already been planning his comeback to the tour once he has recovered. “I've been in contact with the Tour, which has been great,” he said. “It looks like I can come back in 2028 and play in the Challenger Series if everything works like it should.”
