Will Zalatoris withdrew from the 2023 Masters before the first round last week, but his time away from golf will last longer than just one major championship.
The 26-year-old rising star on the PGA Tour announced on Instagram on Monday morning that he will be out for the rest of the season after having back surgery over the weekend.
“After careful considering and seeking multiple medical opinions, I underwent a successful microdiscectomy on Saturday. As much as I hate not being able to play the rest of this season, I am happy that I am already seeing the benefits of the procedure,” Zalatoris wrote. “Playing and living in pain is not fun. I look forward to making a full recovery and seeing everyone in the fall.”
In eight events so far this season, Zalatoris has made six cuts and finished inside the top 25 just twice at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (T-11) and Genesis Invitational (4). Over his last four starts before the Masters WD, the winner of the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship finished T-53 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 73rd at the Players Championship and T-59 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.