Will Zalatoris to Miss 2027 PGA Tour Season Following Third Back Surgery
Golfer Will Zalatoris announced he will undergo spinal fusion surgery later this month, which will sideline him for the entirety of the 2027 PGA Tour season.
Will Zalatoris is slated to miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season as he prepares for his third back surgery since 2023. The 30-year-old golfer revealed his upcoming procedure during media day for the Austin Championship, an event he is still scheduled to compete in on November 12.
Zalatoris confirmed he will undergo spinal fusion surgery later in November, describing the past four years as "hell" but expressing hope that the procedure will provide a lasting solution. "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 stated, according to Golf Channel.
The upcoming surgery marks a significant setback for Zalatoris, who was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world in late 2022. That year, he finished runner-up in both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, and also placed second at the 2021 Masters. His career has been impacted by recurrent back issues, leading to his current standing outside the Top 600 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Zalatoris played a full schedule in 2024 but has seen limited starts in the subsequent seasons, with only four appearances in 2026. His last PGA Tour event was the Valero Texas Open in April, where he finished tied for 67th. He anticipates returning to play in 2028, potentially on the PGA Tour's new Challenger Series, which serves as the second tier of the revamped tour structure.