Will Zalatoris, who at one point rose to No. 7 in the world thanks to several near wins at major championships, won't be playing competitive golf all of next year.
Zalatoris told reporters Wednesday that he will undergo spinal fusion surgery next month, the latest setback for the 30-year-old American.
"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.com. "It's not something you want to do, but when you have three [PGA] Tour physical therapists tell you it needs to be done at some time, you go ahead and do it."
Zalatoris played in just four tour events this season, making the cut in two. His last event was the Valero Texas Open in April, when he finished T-67, but he said Wednesday that he reinjured his back while there.
Zalatoris said he's planning to play in next month's Austin Championship in Texas, where he spoke as part of its media day Wednesday, then will undergo the surgery.
"I've been in contact with the tour, which has been great," he said, per Golf.com. "It looks like I can come back in 2028 and play in the Challenger Series if everything works like it should."
Beginning in 2028, the PGA Tour will have a two-tiered system, with the Challenger Series the primary pathway to the elevated Championship Series.
Injuries have derailed a promising career for Zalatoris, the former Wake Forest star who was PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2021. He finished in the top 10 of majors six times from 2020 to 2022 and also won the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
He has had a series of back surgeries since, including a microdiscectomy in April 2023 and surgery to correct two herniated disks in his back in May 2025.