Latest news with #WillZalatoris
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Tiger Woods' former coach has his say after Will Zalatoris rejects £97m LIV deal
Will Zalatoris, who once rejected £97m from LIV, has been ruled out of action until at least the autumn after undergoing back surgery, with injury problems again striking the PGA Tour star Following Will Zalatoris ' latest injury blow, Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' former coach, has hinted that the PGA Tour star might have been wise to accept a £97million offer from LIV Golf. Zalatoris, born in Dallas, saw his hopes for the 2023 Ryder Cup dashed due to injury. A recurring back issue, which led to season-ending surgery two years ago, has once again flared up, ruling him out of starring at Bethpage Black in September. On Monday, the 28-year-old announced he would be sidelined until at least autumn after undergoing surgery for a herniated disk. This extends his time away from the PGA Tour, following Fred Couples' revelations that the American had declined a jaw-dropping offer to join the breakaway LIV circuit two years ago. With Zalatoris out of action and his chances to earn substantial PGA prize money on hold, Haney, who mentored Woods from 2004 to 2010, suggested via social media that the Texan might have been better off accepting the lucrative offer from the Saudi-backed tour. In the same year that players like Jon Rahm switched to LIV, it was reported that Zalatoris rejected a near £100m proposal. Former Masters champion Couples, who shares an agent with Zalatoris, was asked about the offer that surfaced two years ago and commended him for sticking to his principles. "Money is zero object [for LIV]," golf legend Couples remarked in 2023, as he admired Zalatoris' commitment to stay on the PGA Tour, adding: "I give Will a lot of credit; he wants [to keep playing on] the PGA Tour." But not long after his decision, Zalatoris had to step away due to back problems that started troubling him in 2022, sparking debate whether refusing the lucrative LIV offer was wise, given his ability to earn even while sidelined. Zalatoris has now faced further challenges with the injury re-emerging, leading to his announcement of undergoing surgery at the Texas Back Institute on Friday, reports the Mirror US. "I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health," read a statement from Zalatoris. "Time to focus on my recovery and get back after it. Thank you to my team, friends, and family for being there for me throughout this journey. Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall." Amidst his ongoing health issues, a concerned fan took to the social media platform X, expressing sympathy and suggesting that rejecting LIV may not have been the best idea. "Feel bad for Will," they began. "Guy was talked out of a massive deal with LIV that would have set him and his future family up for a few generations. Remember, anyone who talks someone out of that kind of money doesn't give a s*** about that person." Coach Haney reposted this, and such an act suggests he might share the sentiment, implying that Zalatoris could have erred by passing up the millions from LIV. At the time of the LIV offer, Zalatoris had already made a name for himself as one of the PGA Tour's top players, making an immediate impact despite only joining the circuit during the 2020-21 season. He impressively finished second at the Masters in 2021 and also claimed the runner-up spot at both the PGA Championship and US Open in 2022. This recent setback will rob him of any chance at a first major title this year.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Will Zalatoris Out After Second Back Surgery
WASHINGTON: Will Zalatoris said on Monday he has undergone a second back surgery in just over two years and will be sidelined through the US PGA Tour Championship. The 28-year-old American, whose only PGA Tour triumph came at the 2022 St. Jude Championship, revealed on social media he decided on the operation after missing the cut at the PGA Championship. 'This spring, I started feeling some discomfort and instability in my back that progressively got worse,' Zalatoris said on Instagram. '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 of the Texas Back Institute. 'I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health. Time to focus on my recovery and get back after it. 'Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall.' That timetable means world number 84 Zalatoris will miss June's US Open and July's British Open as well as August's PGA Tour playoffs. Zalatoris underwent microdiscectomy back surgery in April 2023 after suffering back injuries at the Masters practice area and missed the next eight months. He has not managed a top-10 finish since sharing ninth at last year's Masters, his seventh top-10 effort in a major. Zalatoris is a three-time major runner-up, taking second at the 2021 Masters
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Zalatoris out until fall after undergoing second back surgery
WASHINGTON: Will Zalatoris said on Monday he has undergone a second back surgery in just over two years and will be sidelined through the US PGA Tour Championship. The 28-year-old American, whose only PGA Tour triumph came at the 2022 St. Jude Championship, revealed on social media he decided on the operation after missing the cut at the PGA Championship. 'This spring, I started feeling some discomfort and instability in my back that progressively got worse,' Zalatoris said on Instagram. '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 of the Texas Back Institute. 'I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health. Time to focus on my recovery and get back after it. 'Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall.' That timetable means world number 84 Zalatoris will miss June's US Open and July's British Open as well as August's PGA Tour playoffs. Zalatoris underwent microdiscectomy back surgery in April 2023 after suffering back injuries at the Masters practice area and missed the next eight months. He has not managed a top-10 finish since sharing ninth at last year's Masters, his seventh top-10 effort in a major. Zalatoris is a three-time major runner-up, taking second at the 2021 Masters
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zalatoris out until fall after undergoing second back surgery
American Will Zalatoris, a three-time major runner-up, underwent back surgery last week after missing the cut at the PGA Championship (Alex Slitz) Will Zalatoris said on Monday he has undergone a second back surgery in just over two years and will be sidelined through the US PGA Tour Championship. The 28-year-old American, whose only PGA Tour triumph came at the 2022 St. Jude Championship, revealed on social media he decided on the operation after missing the cut at the PGA Championship. Advertisement "This spring, I started feeling some discomfort and instability in my back that progressively got worse," Zalatoris said on Instagram. "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 of the Texas Back Institute. "I'm happy to say that I woke up feeling good and excited about my long-term back health. Time to focus on my recovery and get back after it. "Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall." That timetable means world number 84 Zalatoris will miss June's US Open and July's British Open as well as August's PGA Tour playoffs. Advertisement Zalatoris underwent microdiscectomy back surgery in April 2023 after suffering back injuries at the Masters practice area and missed the next eight months. He has not managed a top-10 finish since sharing ninth at last year's Masters, his seventh top-10 effort in a major. Zalatoris is a three-time major runner-up, taking second at the 2021 Masters and 2022 PGA Championship and sharing second at the 2022 US Open. js/iwd
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
PGA Tour: Will Zalatoris' Heartbreaking Update Sure to Derail his Comeback
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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. — 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. More Golf: Rory McIlroy Turning Heads with Stunning Decision Ahead of US Open
