Zalatoris’ planned Austin return comes before surgery and a year away

Will Zalatoris plans to have spinal-fusion surgery in late November and expects to miss the entire 2027 season. The 30-year-old golfer outlined that plan Wednesday at media day for the Austin Championship, where he intends to compete before the operation.

Art Stricklin’s on-site report for GOLF.com places the announcement in Austin and identifies the planned surgery as Zalatoris’ latest attempt to address recurring back problems. His intended start at Omni Barton Creek Resort on November 12–15 would come before surgery at the end of the month.

That leaves Zalatoris preparing for a brief return to competition followed by a much longer absence. He has not played a PGA Tour event since April’s Valero Texas Open, where he finished tied for 67th. ESPN reported that he entered only four Tour events in 2026 and made two cuts.

Zalatoris said he reinjured his back during that Texas Open appearance. A torn labrum also interrupted his season. The new plan follows back operations in 2023 and 2025; the PGA Tour’s own May 2025 report documented surgery after he re-herniated two discs.

The Austin appearance remains his stated intention, rather than a completed return. The tournament’s official site confirms the event at Barton Creek’s Fazio Canyons course, with tournament-week activities scheduled for November 9–15. GOLF.com and Golf Channel report the competitive dates as November 12–15.

Zalatoris also discussed a possible return in 2028, saying he had been in contact with the Tour and hoped to play in its Challenger Series if his recovery went as planned. He did not promise a return date or a particular outcome from surgery.

His early professional record explains the significance of another season away. Zalatoris was the PGA Tour’s 2021 Rookie of the Year, finished runner-up at the 2021 Masters and contended repeatedly in majors before winning the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The immediate schedule is narrower: an intended Austin start, a planned November operation and an expected year without competitive golf. Any later comeback will depend on how his recovery develops.

Sources

• GOLF.com: Zalatoris’ Austin media-day announcement
• Golf Channel: Zalatoris’ surgery and Austin plans
• ESPN: Zalatoris expects to miss 2027
• PGA Tour: Zalatoris’ May 2025 back surgery
• Austin Championship: Official tournament information

Sources

GOLF.com: Zalatoris’ Austin media-day announcement · Zalatoris’ surgery and Austin plans · ESPN: Zalatoris expects to miss 2027 · PGA Tour: Zalatoris’ May 2025 back surgery · Official tournament information