Will Zalatoris to Miss 2027 Season Due to Spinal Fusion Surgery

Former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris will undergo spinal fusion surgery next month and expects to miss the entire 2027 season.

Will Zalatoris announced Wednesday that he will undergo spinal fusion surgery next month and will miss the entire 2027 competitive golf season. The 30-year-old American, who reached a career-high world ranking of No. 7, confirmed the procedure during a media day for the Austin Championship. Zalatoris intends to play in that Texas-based event next month before beginning his recovery process.

The decision follows a limited 2026 campaign where Zalatoris appeared in only four PGA Tour events, making two cuts. His most recent appearance occurred at the Valero Texas Open in April, where he finished T-67. According to Zalatoris, he reinjured his back during that tournament. Three PGA Tour physical therapists advised that the fusion surgery was necessary to address ongoing issues he described as "four years of hell."

This surgery marks the latest in a series of back procedures for the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship winner. Zalatoris previously underwent a microdiscectomy in April 2023 and a procedure to correct two herniated disks in May 2025. Between 2020 and 2022, the former Wake Forest standout recorded six top-10 finishes in major championships.

Zalatoris indicated that his projected return to competition is slated for 2028. Under the PGA Tour's new two-tiered structure launching that year, he expects to compete in the Challenger Series, which serves as the primary qualification route for the elevated Championship Series.