AUSTIN — Will Zalatoris will miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season to undergo spinal-fusion surgery in Dallas next month, he revealed Wednesday during media day for the Austin Championship. Zalatoris, who has battled back issues for much of his promising career, said the procedure is intended to correct ongoing problems and will sideline him for the full season after one final start at Omni Barton Creek Resort on Nov. 12-15.
"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." The surgery is similar to the one Tiger Woods had, but with a different surgeon in Dallas.
Zalatoris, who has finished second in both the Masters and PGA Championship and owns one PGA Tour victory, missed part of the 2026 season with a torn labrum after recovering from his most recent back surgery in 2025. He said he hurt his back again this spring at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio when he tried to play 27 holes in cool weather. After playing in Houston the week before, the San Antonio event was his last of the year. "It's all connected together and I just want to get It fixed," he said. "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 plans to play the Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort on Nov. 12-15 before having surgery at the end of the month. "I'm just working on the availably is the best part of ability phase," he said. "I just enjoy the Tuesday-Wednesday practice rounds with the guys more than any Thursday-Friday rounds." He said he has been in contact with the Tour about his path back, adding, "It looks like I can come back in 2028 and play in the Challenger Series if everything works like it should."