The setbacks just keep coming for Will Zalatoris, who is expected to miss the entirety of the 2027 PGA Tour season.
During media day previewing next month’s Austin Championship, the 30-year-old delivered both good news and bad news, but it’s the bad news that understandably sticks out.
While Zalatoris explained that he is still set to tee it up in the event that begins on November 12, he went on to share that he is scheduled to undergo a spinal-fusion surgery later that month.
Will Zalatoris of the United States during the first round of the Valero Texas Open 2026 at TPC San Antonio on April 02, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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“I’ve been through four years of hell so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it,” Zalatoris said, according to Golf Channel. “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.”
Zalatoris went on to joke that he’s “the oldest 30-year-old you will ever meet,” and there is some truth to that, as the upcoming procedure will mark his third back surgery since 2023.
Will Zalatoris of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open 2026 at Torrey Pines South Course on January 30, 2026 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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The former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was playing world-class golf in late 2022, reaching No. 7 in the world and finishing runner-up in both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open that year. He also finished second in the 2021 Masters, one shot back of winner Hideki Matsuyama.
Will Zalatoris of the United States follows his shot on the 11th hole during the third round of The American Express 2026 at Nicklaus Tournament Course on January 24, 2026 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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Zalatoris last played a full schedule on Tour in 2024, making 22 starts that season, but has managed just 15 starts on Tour across the last two seasons, including just four starts in 2026. He last teed it up on Tour in April, finishing T-67 at the Valero Texas Open the week before the Masters.
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With his major surgeries and lengthy rehab stints, Zalatoris has fallen outside of the Top 600 in the Official World Golf Ranking. While hopeful to return to action at full strength in 2028, he’ll likely be doing so on the Tour’s soon-to-be-introduced Challenger Series, which is the second tier on the new-look PGA Tour.