Will Zalatoris is expected to miss the entire 2027 season because of another back surgery.
Speaking to reporters at Wednesday’s media day for the PGA Tour’s upcoming Austin Championship, the 30-year-old Zalatoris said he is scheduled to undergo a spinal-fusion surgery in late November, after teeing it up in the Nov. 12-15 event at Omni Barton Creek Resort.
“I’ve been through four years of hell so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it,” Zalatoris said. “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.”
This will mark Zalatoris’ third major back procedure, following a 2023 microdiscectomy and 2025 artificial disc replacement. He played in four events this year before missing the remainder of the season with torn right hip labrum. According to a Golf.com report, Zalatoris also revealed Wednesday that he reinjured his back during a T-67 at the Valero Texas Open in early April, the most recent tournament he’s played.
“It’s all connected together and I just want to get It fixed,” Zalatoris added. “I can’t promise anybody anything because of what I’ve been through. I’m the oldest 30-year-old you will ever meet.”
Zalatoris, who has played a dozen or fewer events in three of the past four years and slipped to No. 610 in the world, remains hopeful that he’ll be back in action in 2028, likely on the Challenger Series, which will be the PGA Tour’s second tier.