Golfer Will Zalatoris is set to return to competitive play at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas after a seven-month hiatus due to back surgery, during which he missed three Majors and a likely Ryder Cup appearance. He also praised Tiger Woods’ ability to repeatedly return from serious injuries.
At Glance
‣ Will Zalatoris is set to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge after a seven-month absence due to back surgery.
‣ Zalatoris had to withdraw from The Masters in April just before his tee time due to his back injury, and his recovery also caused him to miss the remaining three Majors and a likely Ryder Cup appearance.
‣ The golfer revealed that he only started hitting balls again a couple of months ago and has been on a strict practice and rehab schedule.
‣ Zalatoris also praised Tiger Woods for his ability to consistently return from serious injuries and continue to perform at a high level.
Tiger Woods’ return to the Hero World Challenge is making waves. After a long hiatus, he’s back in the game. But, he’s not the only one making a comeback at Albany.
Will Zalatoris is another name to watch. Unlike Woods, Zalatoris had to pull out before his tee time at Augusta National. He announced his withdrawal from April’s Masters before going under the knife for back surgery.
After more than half a year, Zalatoris is ready to compete again. He’ll be playing alongside Jordan Spieth in the first round in the Bahamas. But before getting into that, Zalatoris took a moment to reflect on his time away from the game.
“It’s been an interesting seven months,” he admitted. He described the feeling of his back giving out on the driving range at Augusta as a golfer’s worst nightmare. “It’s been a patience game. It’s been a grind,” he said.
He took advice from fellow golfers who had been through similar experiences. They all told him the same thing: take your time. No one’s ever rushed back from an injury and been better for it.
Zalatoris revealed that he only started hitting balls again a few months ago. “Each week has just progressively gotten a little bit better,” he said. His practice time was strictly regulated, and he spent most of his time in rehab.
Withdrawing from The Masters was a blow, but the lay-off also meant he missed three Majors and a likely first appearance at the Ryder Cup for the US. The uncertainty of his return timeline was a challenge.
Zalatoris, who was eighth in the world before the surgery and is now 33rd, is focused on getting through the Hero World Challenge unscathed. “It’s more of if I put 72 holes together pain free… either way it’s a positive,” he said.
Zalatoris also praised Tiger Woods’ resilience. “It’s ridiculous – there’s no other way to put it,” he said. He admired Woods’ ability to win another Major after all his health struggles.
“This was my first time really having any sort of surgery in my entire life and going through that recovery process,” Zalatoris said. He finds Woods’ ability to still compete in Majors in his late 40s remarkable.
