The PGA tour is the most coveted opportunity for professional golfers. Every birdie, bogey, and eagle makes or breaks a player’s career and position in the PGA tour.
Just a couple of months back, Michael Block became one of the most decorated players and media-favorite owing to his underdog story and phenomenal hole-in-one victory.
But last year, another young man was dominating the PGA tour, competing against seasoned professionals.
Will Zalatoris, the 26-year-old golfer, began his professional journey in 2018. And it was not until 2020 that he earned his first professional victory at the TPC Colorado Championship by a hair.
But this narrow victory was still enough to instill the much-needed confidence as he approached his following games with perfect strategy, poise, skills, and proficiency. The rookie had become the master and won the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
However, he was struggling with his form ever since the Masters’ championship tour and had to take a hiatus of four months to recover. He did make a comeback the same year but found it difficult to retain his winning performance. In January 2023, he finished fourth at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. This was his first indication that he needed medical attention.
On April 6, 2023, Zalatoris had to withdraw from the masters after complaining about his back pain. After his stellar record of six T10 finishes, this was a major obstacle in his reigning career. He took to Instagram to express his thoughts about his sudden departure from the tournament–
Will Zalatoris revealed that he suffered from two herniated disks on his back.
What Kind of Injury Did Will Zalatoris Have? Why Did Will Zalatoris Have Surgery?
Zalatoris explained his case with great detail in an interview–
“I had two herniated disks, and part of it was actually—the genesis of it was actually bad right ankle mobility. Because of me not pushing off my right side soon enough and being a very kind of dynamic player with some side bend, my right hip got high and tilt back.”
“We’ve been trying to get me actually to stand closer to the golf ball, so that makes me create space with the ball so I can turn more horizontal as opposed to lateral. It’s been good.”
Will revealed in his Instagram post that he underwent a microdiscectomy on April 8.
According to Healthline, microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure (surgical) for those suffering from a herniated lumbar disc. The surgeons will remove small fragments of the disc, bone, and ligament to free the suppressed nerves that cause the lingering discomfort.
How Serious Is Zalatoris’s Injury?
Since golf requires a meticulous posture, flexible movements, and strategic placement, Zaltoris’s injury was a key component in his form. Hence, it was crucial for him to take the necessary rest for complete recovery. He
He said in an interview how his performance was affected due to the herniated discs–
“We spent a lot of time understanding the pressures on my golf swing and understanding how I push off my right side.”
“I do it later than a lot of guys, so what that does for someone with a lot of side bend is that gets my right hip high and my spine is tilted back, and so as Dr. (Greg) Rose said, ‘duh, no wonder I had a back issue.'”
He further elaborates on the significance of his posture and how it has affected his condition–
“Be a little more centered, as opposed to having the ball forward with more spine tilt at address. I’m trying to get more centered over it and work more around my right side, so more a turn as opposed to a lateral shift. When my right hip gets high and the spine tilts back, you’re all of a sudden creating all that stress on your back.”
But the good news for his supportive fans is that he has announced his comeback for the new season with the Kapalua event, which is a Tournaments qualifier. He has the chance to play at the Sentry TOC, one of the crucial tournaments of the PGA tour, with a whopping purse of $15 million.
Do you think Will Zalatoris would be able to regain his win? Is he ready for a comeback, or is it too soon after a critical surgery?
What are your thoughts on Will’s performance so far? Let us know in the comments section below.
