Will Zalatoris is feeling better physically than when he was a regular contender on the Major Championship stage as he makes his long-awaited return to action at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.
The American has not played since the US PGA Championship in May, with an MRI later that month revealing he had re-herniated two discs in his back and resulting in back surgery.
It was the latest back-related setback for Zalatoris, who first suffered from the injury during the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs in 2022 and was later sidelined for eight months after undergoing a microdiscectomy in the aftermath of withdrawing from the Masters in April 2023.
Prior to the start of his injury issues, the 29-year-old was in the top ten in six of nine Majors from 2020-22, including three runner-up finishes.
While he played 22 starts worldwide last year, Zalatoris believes his latest comeback is akin to a “rebirth” as he takes his place in a limited field on the DP World Tour at Sun City as a tournament invite.
Asked to describe how his body is feeling, he told the DP World Tour on the eve of the US$6 million event: "It's feeling great. I had the disc replaced.
"You know, I battled it for about four years, did every modality that is under the sun to try to get back to being healthy, but essentially, I had gotten to a point where I was bone on bone and needed some help.
"And so the fake discs have been incredible. When I woke up from the first surgery I ever had, it was almost like, 'man, I've got a long way to go to recovery'.
"This one was almost like a rebirth, where I'm waking up feeling taller, feeling more structured in my back, and it's made my golf swing better without even making some changes."
This one [the back surgery] was almost like a rebirth, where I'm waking up feeling taller, feeling more structured in my back
Working alongside physical therapist Dr. Meg McCormick, Zalatoris has since spent time to tweak his swing set-up after better understanding the toll he was putting on his body beforehand.
"Everything is basically taking any torque off my back as possible," he added. "I've always been a very bendy guy when it comes to impact, and so trying to minimise that as much as I can, but also understanding how my body works.
"It's something that Dr. Meg McCormick and I have spent a ton of time on at home, understanding, you know, hey, my right hip joint sits a little different.
"Going into all those different things, but that's what I've had to do for three years, and it feels so good to be on the other side of it.
"I know for a few years, I would kind of just say, 'oh, yeah, I'm doing OK, I'm doing pretty good'. But this is… if that was my 100%, this is like 150%."
While he felt he required "a week to recover" after an event following his return from the microdiscectomy, Zalatoris is in no doubt that this time things are different.
"You know, it's almost like ‘23 through the start of this year was just kind of a... It was what it was," he explained.
"I had a couple of nice finishes, but it was just at courses that I really liked and I played a lot in the past.
"And so now to feel like I'm able to take my game anywhere again is so gratifying."
Without a win worldwide since his breakthrough PGA TOUR title at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he is hoping he can mount a title challenge at Gary Player Country Club.
"Considering everything I've gone through the last three years, it would probably be the most important win I've ever had," he said of potentially returning to the winner's circle this weekend.
"You know, going through those few years that I've had, not knowing if I was going to be able to play again, no matter what injury you go through, sometimes that'll creep into your mind. But the fact that I'm on the other side of it now is so gratifying."
Zalatoris is making his second appearance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, having finished in a tie for 18th last year.
Reflecting on the memories of his debut at Gary Player Country Club, he said: "Last year was special. I'd heard about it since I was a kid, you know, growing up with some legends of the game that have come here through the years.
"It’s just fun to be back here. You know, doing the safari to start off your week is about as fun as it gets. I brought my wife this year and, seeing a mama leopard with a baby is as good as it gets.
"So it's special off the golf course, but obviously playing in Mr. Player's event is even more special.
"The golf course is in phenomenal shape this year, too."
