Will Zalatoris to Miss 2027 PGA Tour Season Following Third Major Back Surgery
Will Zalatoris will miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season after announcing he will undergo spinal-fusion surgery in Dallas this November. The 30-year-old professional, who has battled severe spinal issues for four years, plans to compete in the Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort from Nov. 12-15 before the procedure, with a targeted return to competition in 2028.
What Will Zalatoris’s Spinal-Fusion Surgery Entails
The upcoming procedure marks Zalatoris’s third major back operation. He told reporters at the Austin Championship that the decision was made after consulting with multiple medical professionals. “I’ve been through four years of hell so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it,” Zalatoris said.
The spinal fusion is similar to the procedure Tiger Woods underwent, though Zalatoris will utilize a different surgical team in Dallas. The goal of a fusion is to permanently join two or more vertebrae, eliminating motion between them to reduce pain. Zalatoris previously compared his spine to a Jenga tower, noting that previous interventions failed to restore the structure’s original stability.
"That first surgery… was like taking a Jenga piece that’s broken out of a Jenga tower. Even though there’s a broken piece taken away, the integrity of the tower is still not the same." — Will Zalatoris
By fusing the vertebrae, the surgical team aims to permanently stabilize the "tower," allowing it to withstand the extreme rotational forces and daily physical grind required on the professional golf circuit.
How Zalatoris’s Previous Microdiscectomy and Artificial Disc Replacement Surgeries Failed
Zalatoris’s spinal issues began in 2022 when he was forced to withdraw from the FedEx Cup playoffs after suffering two herniated discs at the BMW Championship. In April 2023, he underwent a “microdiscectomy to remove a portion of a herniated disk” that was pressing on a spinal nerve.
After returning to action, he experienced recurring discomfort and instability in the spring of 2025. An MRI revealed that he had re-herniating two discs, leading to an artificial disc replacement at the Texas Back Institute. While that procedure successfully restored some of the height he had lost to spinal compression, it did not provide a permanent fix.
Following a torn right hip labrum that limited his 2026 schedule, Zalatoris reinjured his back during a T-67 finish at the Valero Texas Open in early April. The reaggravation occurred after he attempted to play 27 holes in cool weather, prompting his medical team to recommend the definitive fusion.
Why Excessive Side Bend in the Golf Swing Causes Spinal Injuries
Understanding why elite athletes suffer these specific spinal breakdowns requires looking at golf biomechanics. The modern golf swing relies on a movement called "side bend," which creates a "reverse C" shape in the upper body during the downswing.
While a natural amount of side bend helps generate power and allows a player to hit up on the driver, excessive lateral tilt places immense shear force on the lumbar spine. When the lower body shifts toward the target faster than the upper body, the resulting gap tilts the torso back. If a player lacks the necessary thoracic mobility or hip internal rotation, the lower back absorbs the rotational stress. This biomechanical reality explains why even highly conditioned athletes face recurring disc herniations, as the lumbar spine is simply not designed to handle that degree of rotational shear repeatedly.
When Will Zalatoris Plans to Return to the PGA Tour
Zalatoris is currently working closely with the PGA Tour to manage his medical status and plan his rehabilitation. He explained during media day that the timeline is cautious but optimistic. “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,” he noted.
He plans to return in 2028 and potentially play in the Challenger Series to ease back into competitive reps if his rehabilitation progresses as expected. Zalatoris, who jokingly noted that he is "the oldest 30-year-old you will ever meet," will rely on this developmental tour to rebuild his stamina and confirm his spinal health before rejoining the main PGA Tour schedule.
