Zalatoris to Undergo Spinal-Fusion Surgery, Will Miss Entire 2027 Season

Will Zalatoris will miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season after announcing he is set to undergo spinal-fusion surgery to fix the chronic back problems that have shadowed four years of his promising career.

The 30-year-old revealed the decision during media day for the Austin Championship on Wednesday in Texas. Zalatoris said three Tour physical therapists told him the surgery was necessary at some point, and he chose to go through with it now rather than keep fighting the same pain.

Zalatoris plans to play the Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort from November 12 to 15 before having the operation in Dallas at the end of the month. He noted the procedure is similar to the surgery Tiger Woods underwent, though with a different Dallas-based surgeon.

The announcement caps a long and painful stretch for the one-time PGA Tour winner, whose best results include runner-up finishes at both the Masters and the PGA Championship. He missed part of the 2026 season with a torn labrum and had earlier back surgery in 2025.

Zalatoris said his back flared up again in San Antonio this spring at the Valero Texas Open, where he tried to play 27 holes in cool weather the week after playing in Houston. It was his last start of the year.

For now, the target is one more appearance at Barton Creek, then a full reset — with the entire 2027 season on the shelf.