The Aporia · Will Zalatoris set to miss all of 2027 PGA Tour season due to yet another back surgery: 'Four years of hell'

Will Zalatoris announced during media day for the upcoming Austin Championship that he will miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season due to a scheduled spinal-fusion surgery in November. This marks his third back surgery since 2023, with previous procedures and rehab causing him to play only 15 tournaments across the last two seasons. Zalatoris, who once ranked as high as No. 7 in world golf after strong performances in major championships, now faces a likely return to the second-tier Challenger Series for 2028.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-15, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

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Will Zalatoris is set to miss the entire 2027 PGA Tour season due to a spinal-fusion surgery, which he plans to undergo later this month following the Austin Championship starting November 12. During media day for the upcoming event, Zalatoris shared that despite participating in the tournament, he will require surgery after it concludes. The 30-year-old golfer has endured three back surgeries since 2023 and stated, "I’ve been through four years of hell so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it." This latest setback follows a period where Zalatoris was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world in late 2022, having finished second in both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open that year.

Written for “Will Zalatoris Back Surgery” on 2026-10-15, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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🔮 The setbacks just keep coming for Will Zalatoris, who is expected to miss the entirety of the 2027 PGA Tour season.

2026-10-15 · assertive framing · Will Zalatoris set to miss all of 2027 PGA Tour season due to yet another back surgery: 'Four years of hell'

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While Zalatoris explained that he is still set to tee it up in the event that begins on November 12, he went on to share that he is scheduled to undergo a spinal-fusion surgery later that month.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-15

🔮 The setbacks just keep coming for Will Zalatoris, who is expected to miss the entirety of the 2027 PGA Tour season.

2026-10-15 · Fox News

Will Zalatoris set to miss all of 2027 PGA Tour season due to yet another back surgery: 'Four years of hell' · assertive framing

The setbacks just keep coming for Will Zalatoris, who is expected to miss the entirety of the 2027 PGA Tour season. asserted

who → come → season

During media day previewing next month's Austin Championship, the 30-year-old delivered both good news and bad news, but it's the bad news that understandably sticks out. asserted

that → preview → news

While Zalatoris explained that he is still set to tee it up in the event that begins on November 12, he went on to share that he is scheduled to undergo a spinal-fusion surgery later that month. asserted

he → explain → surgery

"I’ve been through four years of hell so it’s good to have something that will hopefully correct it," Zalatoris said, according to Golf Channel. uncertain

Zalatoris → ’ → Channel

"It’s not something you want to do, but when you have three Tour physical therapists tell you it needs to be done at some time, you go ahead and do it." asserted

you → ’ → it

Zalatoris went on to joke that he's "the oldest 30-year-old you will ever meet," and there is some truth to that, as the upcoming procedure will mark his third back surgery since 2023. asserted

procedure → go → 2023

The former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was playing world-class golf in late 2022, reaching No. 7 in the world and finishing runner-up in both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open that year. asserted

Rookie → play → Championship

He also finished second in the 2021 Masters, one shot back of winner Hideki Matsuyama. asserted

He → finish → Matsuyama

Zalatoris last played a full schedule on Tour in 2024, making 22 starts that season, but has managed just 15 starts on Tour across the last two seasons, including just four starts in 2026. asserted

Zalatoris → play → 2026

He last teed it up on Tour in April, finishing T-67 at the Valero Texas Open the week before the Masters. asserted

He → tee → Masters

With his major surgeries and lengthy rehab stints, Zalatoris has fallen outside of the Top 600 in the Official World Golf Ranking. asserted

Zalatoris → fall → Ranking

While hopeful to return to action at full strength in 2028, he'll likely be doing so on the Tour's soon-to-be-introduced Challenger Series, which is the second tier on the new-look PGA Tour. asserted

which → return → Tour

Will Zalatoris set to miss all of 2027 PGA Tour season due to yet another back surgery: 'Four years of hell'

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