Top Golfers Who Were Never the Same After Surgery

Justin Thomas recently announced that he has undergone microdiscectomy surgery to address a disc issue in his back. The timing is especially unfortunate; just when he seemed to have returned to form, the setback has halted his momentum. The American says he is now focused on recovery, and fans will be hoping he can return better than ever. But not all golfers who undergo surgery manage to regain their peak. Below are some top players who were never quite the same after going under the knife.

List of Top Golfers Whose Career Were Derailed By Surgery

1. Anthony Kim

Anthony Kim was once one of the most promising young stars on the PGA Tour. He won three times, reached a world ranking as high as No. 6, and played on the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team. However, his career took a sharp turn after repeated injuries and multiple surgeries. Kim underwent shoulder surgery, hand surgery, and notably spinal fusion surgery. He also ruptured his left Achilles tendon; after surgery, he stepped away from competitive golf during the 2012 season. He made his comeback in 2024 for LIV Golf after a 12-year absence but never quite recaptured the form that made him one of the most promising golfers years earlier.

2. Luke Donald

Former World No. 1 Luke Donald suffered herniated discs in his lower back (L4 and L5), and in 2018 he publicly acknowledged that the pain forced him to step away from golf for treatment. He initially tried non-surgical approaches, including stem-cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections, but he never fully recovered. Although he avoided major surgery, his performance after the injury never matched his peak. In 2019, he returned to the PGA Tour, but his ranking fell steeply, dropping to as low as 919th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He later admitted that the injury and recovery had affected his game permanently.

3. Will Zalatoris

Will Zalatoris had a microdiscectomy surgery after herniated discs and missed much of a season. Before his injury, he was one of the PGA Tour’s brightest young stars, consistently contending in majors and ranking among the world’s top players. He did make a return and even posted strong results, but his back remained fragile, and he later required a second surgery after re-herniating two discs. The repeated injuries forced him to adjust his swing and raised ongoing concerns about his long-term form. Although he is still young, the decline has been significant, and it remains to be seen whether Zalatoris will be able to rediscover the form that once made him a rising star.

4. Jason Day

Jason Day rose to world No. 1 and won several major titles, but chronic lower-back pain became a persistent problem. Over his career, he underwent several procedures to manage his back issues, including epidural injections and a rhizotomy, a surgical nerve-burning treatment intended to reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms. Despite the pain and setbacks, Day has had moments of resurgence. In 2023, he won again on the PGA Tour, but his chronic back issues and surgeries have clearly left a lasting mark on his career, and he has never regained the form that once made him World No. 1.

5. Tiger Woods

A unique case of decline and comeback unlike any other golfer on the list, Tiger Woods experienced a major decline due to multiple back injuries, including a pinched nerve, several procedures, and ultimately a spinal fusion in 2017. Yet he staged the greatest comeback in golf history by winning the 2019 Masters. His resilience and determination show why he was so special. Despite ongoing back issues and an Achilles injury early this season, Woods remains one of the greatest golfers of all time.