Injury setback for Will Zalatoris as he withdraws from Cognizant Classic with ankle issue

In a disheartening turn of events on the PGA Tour, Will Zalatoris again had to withdraw before an event, as he did just before the first round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. Prior to Thursday’s start, the 29-year-old (who was set to tee it up at PGA National Resort) withdrew due to an ongoing left ankle problem. Tournament officials did accommodate him, inserting an alternate into the field to replace him in the latter stages of his withdrawal process.

For Zalatoris, the timing is especially frustrating at the end of a season in which he was finally returning to near-regular action after an era of injuries derailing his career. With the Florida swing about to start and FedExCup points now at a premium, the absence adds a new layer of concern as to whether this is the year Koepka can string together enough competitive starts to play all of 2026.

The officials noted that Zalatoris withdrew with a left ankle injury and declined to elaborate on the nature or severity of the injury. He was scheduled to play with some other big names in one of the featured groups, making the early-round draw even more interesting. Instead, his third start of the season was over before it really began.

We saw glimpses of that earlier this year when he at least seemed capable of playing at a high level, with a solid finish at The American Express, followed the next week by far less success at the Farmers Insurance Open. The Cognizant Classic was treated as another chance to get things going in the right direction. If he had played the course, it would have provided an important litmus test for his trajectory, with the notoriously difficult “Bear Trap” stretch at PGA National, a proving ground for accuracy and poise.

Zalatoris, instead, was left with even more question marks surrounding his health, adding an ankle concern to a medical resume that has already pushed the limits of his fortitude.

The frustrations for Zalatoris have been career-long, as his physical ailments, mostly major back problems, become more frequent. He had surgery in 2023, a microdiscectomy for herniated discs, which caused him to miss the majority of the season. He later needed artificial disc replacement surgery after trying to make a comeback, which kept him from competitive golf for years.

Even with those obstacles, the former major championship contender has shown resolve in his returns, highlighted by strong results in limited starts. Zalatoris was once among the top five players in the world and frequently touted as one of the best ball strikers in the game. He has been trying to restore his game and possible ranking while playing on medical exemptions.