PGA Tour: Will Zalatoris' Heartbreaking Update Sure to Derail his Comeback
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Less than a year and a half after returning to professional golf following back surgery, Will Zalatoris underwent surgery again for the same reason. The 28-year-old will miss the rest of the 2025 PGA Tour regular season because of a new back injury.
Zalatoris himself announced the news himself in a post on his social media profiles.
"This spring, I started feeling some discomfort and instability in my back that progressively got worse," Zalatoris posted.
"Following the PGA Championship, an MRI showed that I had re-herniated two discs. After discussing the options with my medical team, I underwent surgery this past Friday with Dr. Michael Duffy at the Texas Back Institute. I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health."
Will Zalatoris has announced he had surgery last Friday for two herniated discs in his back. pic.twitter.com/HYLJIlhJG8 — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 26, 2025
Zalatoris added that he expects to return next fall, when he will be looking to compete in the PGA Tour's September–November series of tournaments, known as the PGA Tour Fall.
Will Zalatoris faced a similar situation in 2023, when he had a back injury that required microdiscectomy surgery in April, just when the Masters Tournament was being played.
The issue, which had been lingering since late 2022, forced him to withdraw from the Augusta National's event and miss the remainder of the season.
He approached his recovery cautiously, focusing on long-term health, and returned to official competition in early 2024 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. However, his competitive comeback had occurred a month earlier when he received an invitation to the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods in December 2023.
Will Zalatoris of the United States reacts during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.
Will Zalatoris of the United States reacts during the second round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.
Getty Images/Michael Reaves
That injury raised concerns about his durability, given the physical demands of his powerful swing, but Zalatoris remained optimistic about his comeback, emphasizing strength and mobility improvements in his rehab.
In his return for the 2024 season, the one-time PGA Tour winner played in 22 tournaments, making 15 cuts and achieving three top-10 finishes. His best result of the year was a second-place finish at the Genesis Invitational.
The current 2025 season was not as successful for Zalatoris. He did not have any top 10 finishes in the 11 events he played in, missing two cuts. His best result was a tie for 12th place in the American Express.
Zalatoris's PGA Tour membership is only guaranteed until 2025, so he must play in the FedEx Cup Fall Series to secure his card for next season. Otherwise, he may need a medical extension to play in 2026.
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