PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — On Thursday morning, just before his scheduled opening round at the Cognizant Classic held at PGA National, Will Zalatoris announced his withdrawal, citing a left ankle injury as the reason. This development occurred mere moments before his tee time, sidelining one of the event’s most high-profile competitors.
Zalatoris, a prominent figure in the current PGA TOUR season, was aiming to bolster his standing while competing under a major medical extension. His recent attempts to regain form followed significant back surgeries that had kept him away from the tour for extended periods.
Zalatoris’ 2025 Performance and Medical History
Entering the 2025 season, Zalatoris had participated in limited events as he sought to reestablish momentum. His early season opened with a tied 18th finish at The American Express, but was followed by missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Over the entire 2025 season, he competed in 11 tournaments and made the cut in nine of them, demonstrating competitive play despite ongoing physical challenges.
However, his campaign faced an abrupt halt when he withdrew from THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson late in the schedule. He made a brief return at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow but failed to advance past the halfway mark after posting a six-over-par score through the first two rounds. This event marked the conclusion of his 2025 appearance on the PGA TOUR.
Zalatoris’s injury and subsequent withdrawal from the Cognizant Classic add to a series of medical setbacks. He underwent artificial disc replacement surgery aimed at treating two herniated discs following the 2025 PGA Championship. This procedure was a follow-up to an earlier microdiscectomy surgery performed in April 2023 to relieve similar issues affecting the L4-L5 and L5-S1 nerves in his lower back. The initial operation in 2023 came after Zalatoris withdrew from the Masters, an absence that left him sidelined for eight months.
Current Status on Medical Extension and Implications for FedExCup Points
Zalatoris currently has 14 remaining starts under his medical extension. During this period, his objective is to accumulate 255 FedExCup points to satisfy the terms of the extension. His withdrawal from the Cognizant Classic means he forfeits those critical points from this event, which may impact his ability to fulfill the extension requirements within the available starts.
Following his withdrawal, Ben Silverman was added to the tournament field as Zalatoris’s replacement. Silverman was scheduled to tee off at 12:13 p.m. ET on Thursday, alongside notable players Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.
Significance of Zalatoris’ Withdrawal for His Career and the Tour
Will Zalatoris’s ankle injury and subsequent withdrawal from an important tournament underline the fragility of recovery journeys for athletes dealing with multiple surgeries and physical strain. As one of the game’s rising talents, his health remains critical not only for his personal career trajectory but also for fan engagement and the competitive fabric of the PGA TOUR.
This setback could slow the progress Zalatoris has worked to regain following his extensive back surgeries, yet hopes remain that the ankle injury is a temporary obstacle. How quickly he recovers and manages to return to form will be closely watched by both fans and fellow professionals alike, with the remainder of his medical extension critical for reestablishing himself among the tour’s elite.
Looking ahead, Zalatoris faces a pivotal stretch in his season where maintaining physical health will be as important as performance on the course. The next few tournaments will reveal whether he can regain consistent playing status and continue his resurgence in professional golf.
