Will Zalatoris: Down but Not Out? A Golf Star’s Battle Against the Odds
Golf can be a heartbreaker—just ask Will Zalatoris. Once a rising star with a future as bright as the sun, Zalatoris has faced a rollercoaster of highs and lows that would test even the strongest of wills. But is his story over, or is there still a chapter left to write?
Just a few years ago, Zalatoris was the talk of the golf world. A FedEx Cup playoff victory, a runner-up finish at the 2021 Masters, and a peak ranking of No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking—he seemed unstoppable. From the 2020 U.S. Open to the 2024 Masters, he was like a shadow of Brooks Koepka, consistently contending in majors with seven top-10 finishes, including three runner-up spots. He came agonizingly close to major glory, losing in a playoff at the 2022 PGA Championship and missing another playoff by mere centimeters at that year’s U.S. Open. The future looked golden.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Golf, as we all know, is a game of no guarantees. And for Zalatoris, recurring injuries have turned his promising career into a battle for survival. A faulty back, in particular, has been his Achilles’ heel, sidelining him for months at a time. The latest setback? A left ankle injury that forced him to withdraw from last week’s Cognizant Classic. At just 29, Zalatoris has endured more physical turmoil than most players face in a lifetime.
Let’s break it down:
- 2022 BMW Championship: Withdrew, sidelined for four months.
- Early 2023: Played sparingly before pulling out of the Masters and undergoing a microdiscectomy.
- Late 2023: Returned after eight months at the Hero World Challenge.
- 2024: A full season with only three top-10 finishes, plummeting down the OWGR.
- 2025: Withdrew from the PGA Championship, underwent disc replacement surgery, and missed another eight months. His best finish last year? A T12.
Now, he’s outside the top 250 in the OWGR. And this is the part most people miss: Despite the setbacks, Zalatoris remains optimistic. After his most recent back surgery, he described the recovery as smoother than before, likening it to replacing missing pieces in a Jenga tower rather than removing broken ones. He even gained three-quarters of an inch in height! ‘This is the first time in four years I haven’t had sciatica,’ he shared recently. ‘I’m pushing myself harder than ever.’
Swing-wise, he’s overhauling his approach, working to ‘un-torque’ his back and reduce side bend in his downswing. He’s drawing inspiration from Patrick Cantlay and Tiger Woods, both of whom battled back issues. ‘It’s about executing now,’ he said. ‘The three years of pain are over.’
There’s hope. A solo 15th on the DP World Tour and a T18 at The American Express hint at a potential rebound. But can he truly return to his former glory? That’s the million-dollar question.
Golf is fickle, and Zalatoris’s journey has been marked by physical and mental scars. His unconventional putting stroke and wiry frame once made him a standout, but they may have also contributed to his struggles. ‘Going through back surgery once is hard,’ he admitted. ‘But twice? That’s where the mental battle begins.’
Here’s the controversial take: Can Zalatoris regain the confidence he once had, even with a healthy back? Or has the game already taken too much from him? I’m rooting for him—a comeback would be nothing short of miraculous. But I can’t help but wonder if the odds are stacked too high.
What do you think? Is Zalatoris cooked, or can he rise again? Let’s debate it in the comments. One thing’s for sure: his story is far from over.
