In a surprising turn of events, Will Zalatoris has pulled out of the 2026 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches just before the first round. The reason?
An ankle injury that's sidelined him for now. Zalatoris was set to tee off alongside Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger at 12:23 p.m.
ET on Thursday at PGA National, but his spot will now be filled by Ben Silverman.
This was supposed to be Zalatoris' return to action since his appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he unfortunately missed the cut. Earlier in the year, he managed a tie for 18th at the American Express, marking his only other start in 2026.
Zalatoris' journey back to competitive golf hasn't been easy. Over the past three years, he has undergone multiple back surgeries, starting in April 2023 and wrapping up last May after another setback at the PGA Championship. Just this week, he expressed optimism, sharing that he was playing pain-free for the first time in years.
Reflecting on his recovery, Zalatoris said, "The fun part now is that the three years of going through all this is over. The sciatica, the leg weakness, I haven't had any of that." He emphasized the newfound ability to perform physically without limitations, though it often meant taking breaks between tournaments.
For now, Zalatoris' eagerly anticipated third Tour start of 2026 will have to wait. His fans will be hoping for a swift recovery and a return to the form that has made him a standout on the Tour.