Justin Thomas Out Indefinitely After Emergency Surgery

Justin Thomas has announced that he has undergone back surgery—an operation expected to keep the 32-year-old out for an extended period. The setback arrives at a difficult time, coming on the heels of one of the strongest and most consistent seasons of his career. After rediscovering his form, climbing the rankings, and finally breaking his winless streak, the surgery marks a significant interruption to his momentum and raises questions about how long it may take for him to return to peak competitive shape.

Nagging Hip Pain Forced Thomas To Undergo Surgery

Thomas revealed on Friday that he underwent a microdiscectomy on Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. In a post on Instagram, he explained that the discomfort had been building for months. What began as nagging hip pain eventually escalated, and an MRI later confirmed a disc issue in his back that required surgical intervention.

“I’ve had some nagging hip pain for a handful of months, and after some time off and worsening symptoms, an MRI showed I had a disc problem that needed to be treated,” Thomas wrote. “I had a successful microdiscectomy performed yesterday at Hospital for Special Surgery in NY and have already been released. I’m so grateful to the doctors and staff there for all their hard work and support. My next few weeks will be a lot of resting before rehab begins. I have a great team behind me who I fully trust to get me back better than before. Before you ask—I’m not putting any tournament on the calendar or setting a specific time for returning.”

Thomas Unsure When He Will Return

Thomas admitted he has no timeline for his return and has not circled any event on the calendar. He expects to miss the start of the 2026 season as he focuses entirely on recovery and rehabilitation. He emphasized patience, saying he wants the disc to heal fully to avoid future setbacks.

The surgery also rules him out of the upcoming Skins Game, where he planned to make his first appearance since 2008. He was set to join three other marquee players—Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, and Keegan Bradley in the event. Organizers have yet to announce his replacement.

Before the setback, Thomas had made 19 cuts and recorded eight top-10 finishes in 21 starts this season. He finished runner-up three times and ended his winless drought by claiming the RBC Heritage title in April. Thomas was also part of the U.S. team at Bethpage Black, where Luke Donald’s Team Europe handed the Americans a heavy defeat on home soil.