Bold opening: Will Zalatoris isn’t down for the count yet, but the road back to top-tier golf is anything but straightforward.
Golf can be shockingly brutal, and Zalatoris’s story over the past few years embodies that truth. Not long ago, he looked like a rising dynasty in the making: a FedEx Cup playoff victory, a runner-up finish at the 2021 Masters, and a climb to world No. 7. From the 2020 U.S. Open through the 2024 Masters, he resembled a Diet Brooks Koepka in majors—consistently elevating his game when it mattered most. He racked up seven top-10s in majors, including three second-place finishes, and he flirted with another playoff at the 2022 U.S. Open. The trajectory suggested a durable future, a fixture in major battles and American team golf for years.
Yet there are no guarantees in golf, and physical health has repeatedly shattered Zalatoris’s momentum. The latest setback is a left ankle injury that forced him to withdraw from the Cognizant Classic. In his career, the bigger hurdle has typically been his back, and the current issue adds another complication to a troubled stretch. At just 29, he has endured a string of back problems that have derailed what looked like a steady ascent.
Here’s a quick recap of the recent injury saga and its impact:
- 2022 BMW Championship withdrawal, sidelined for four months until the 2023 Sentry.
- Early 2023: limited action, then withdrawal from the Masters and a microdiscectomy in April.
- Return in late 2023 for the Hero World Challenge after an eight-month break.
- 2024: a full season with only three top-10s, which caused a drop in the Official World Golf Ranking.
- 2025: withdrawal from the PGA Championship followed by disc replacement surgery, leading to another eight months off. In 12 starts last year, his best finish was T12.
- 2026: now facing a left ankle issue, compounding ongoing concerns about his back.
As things stand, Zalatoris sits outside the top 250 in the OWGR, a stark contrast to the peak he once showed.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope amid the setbacks. After his most recent back surgery last spring, doctors advised a mostly immobile eight-week recovery, and he reports that this round of rehab has been smoother than the first back surgery. He described the first procedure as “pulling broken pieces out of a Jenga tower,” while this latest one felt like putting those pieces back in place. Remarkably, he even gained about three-quarters of an inch in height.
Zalatoris has been candid about his improvement, noting that he hasn’t experienced sciatic pain in four years and that he’s pushing harder in the gym. He’s focused on stabilizing his swing to reduce torque on his back, a strategy he’s pursuing with visible purpose. In a recent discussion, he highlighted models like Patrick Cantlay and Tiger Woods—both of whom battled back issues—and emphasized that the main goal now is consistent execution week after week.
Early signs are cautiously optimistic. He opened with a solo 15th in the DP World Tour, and tied for 18th at The American Express in Palm Springs. His absence from WM Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Genesis Invitational set the Cognizant Classic up as his next hopeful return. There’s a sense that if the back troubles can stay contained, Zalatoris could recapture the form that once positioned him as a potential major contender.
But let’s be real: golf remains unforgiving. The mental impact of repeated surgeries and long layoffs is immense, and it’s entirely possible the narrative won’t snap back quickly—even for a player with his talent and resilience. The back-to-back surgeries, the long layoff, and the high-pressure environment of professional golf create a unique combination that’s tough to overcome.
I’ve always admired Zalatoris’s combination of college stardom, fearless majors performance, and his wiry build that contributed to his distinctive, sometimes controversial, putting stroke. His recent arc—physical setbacks, a battle to regain confidence, and a still-fragile path forward—is a reminder of golf’s fickleness. The question remains: can he reclaim the swagger and consistency he showed before these injuries?
Is Zalatoris cooked, or can he stage a credible comeback after so many injury hurdles? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Top Photo Caption: Will Zalatoris had to remake his swing after two back surgeries. (GETTY IMAGES/Jed Jacobsohn)
