Will Zalatoris made to wait for Ryder Cup debut as rotten injury luck continues
Will Zalatoris must wonder what he has done to get such awful luck with injuries as the PGA Tour star is set for another lengthy period on the sidelines.
The 26-year-old withdrew from the Masters before the start of his first round and he has since revealed he has had surgery on his back.
Despite putting a positive spin on yet another setback, Zalatoris will miss the remainder of the campaign.
“As much as I hate not being able to play for the rest of the season,” Zalatoris wrote on Instagram, “I am happy that I am already seeing the benefits of the procedure.
“Playing and living in pain is not fun. I look forward to making a full recovery and seeing everyone in the fall.”
After coming second on his debut at the Masters in 2021, he has been a runner-up at both the PGA Championship and the US Open.
He ended his winless drought on the PGA Tour at the FedEx St.Jude Championship towards the end of last season, but this latest setback will delay more tilts at major glory.
He has kissed goodbye to his chances of making his first appearance for the American Ryder Cup team in Rome in September.
He became a Special Temporary Member of the Tour in 2021 and missed out on America’s crushing victory over Europe at Whistling Straits.
He was also forced to miss last year’s Presidents Cup with two herniated discs, even further delaying representing America in a professional capacity having played in the Walker Cup in 2017.
You would hope Zalatoris doesn’t join the list of American players, such as John Daly, who could experience great success on Tour yet never play in the Ryder Cup.
But his injury record suggests there are no guarantees.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
