Will Zalatoris Undergoes Second Back Surgery, Targeting Fall Return

Zalatoris burst onto the scene in his first two seasons on the big-league circuit, winning the 2021 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Award while finishing runner-up at the 2021 Masters, 2022 PGA Championship, and 2022 U.S. Open. Over his first nine major championship starts, Zalatoris amassed an impressive six top-10 finishes and looked to be a star in the making. His incredible ball-striking abilities and poised demeanor made him one of the most promising prospects in the sport.

But injuries have hampered Zalatoris' consistency in recent seasons, with only four top-10 results in 43 starts since his first back surgery in April 2023. In 11 appearances in 2025, the Dallas resident's best finish was a T12 at The American Express in January, with only two other top-25s. He currently sits 99th in the 2025 FedExCup standings and 84th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

According to his social media post, Zalatoris has been dealing with back discomfort/instability since the spring. After missing the cut at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, an MRI revealed he had re-herniated two discs. It's worth mentioning that Zalatoris added roughly 20 pounds of muscle during the 2025 offseason to maximize longevity throughout his career.

“I really wanted to make sure that I'm setting myself up for the next seven, eight years, because right now at 28 years old, this is ‘go time,’” Zalatoris said in January. “Having to get cortisone shots just to get by was a lot. I didn't really want to spend the rest of my career doing that.”

Zalatoris hopes to return during the fall of 2025.