Will Zalatoris continues his remarkable comeback story, positioning himself just two shots off the lead after Thursday's opening round at the Valero Texas Open. The 29-year-old carded a 5-under 67 at TPC San Antonio in what marks only his ninth PGA Tour round of the 2026 season.
Mark Hubbard grabbed the early clubhouse lead, edging out a crowded group that includes Tony Finau and Davis Thompson, who both posted matching 66s. The leaderboard also features Andrew Putnam and Robert MacIntyre in contention after the wind-free morning conditions.
"I'm still 29, I still have some spunk in me," Zalatoris told reporters after his round. "But I still feel like a 29-year-old who's had three back surgeries for sure."
The 2022 FedEx St. Jude champion has endured a grueling rehabilitation process following three back surgeries before reaching his 30th birthday. His limited tournament schedule reflects the ongoing challenge of managing his physical condition while trying to maintain competitive form.
Zalatoris has struggled with consistency this season, playing on a medical exemption with only a handful of starts. He missed cuts at both the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and last week's Texas Children's Houston Open, where Gary Woodland claimed victory at -21. His best finish came with a T-18 at The American Express in the Coachella Valley during his season debut.
"It's all related to the back," he explained during his post-round interview in San Antonio. "It was basically the nerve that, the sciatic nerve going down -- basically from the ankle down I couldn't feel anything."
The ankle injury has compounded his recovery challenges, creating a domino effect from his spinal issues. Despite the physical limitations, Zalatoris managed eight birdies during Thursday's round, showcasing flashes of the form that carried him to runner-up finishes at major championships.
"The reality is that I'm 10 months removed from basically having my back reconstructed," he added. "If I'm complaining about just a little thing here and there, I'll still take it. The patience game is obviously brutal because it's even like a day like today, where I make eight birdies, and we're still talking about it. But that's been my last three years."
Beyond the physical challenges, Zalatoris faces mental hurdles while playing under the constraints of a medical exemption. The status limits his ability to select tournaments strategically, forcing him into events he might otherwise skip for rest and preparation.
"The part that's hard, too, is when you're on a major medical, you don't get to really pick your tournaments," Zalatoris explained.
Ironically, as a Texas native, Zalatoris has previously skipped this event to rest before the Masters. Now he finds himself fighting for the final spot in the Augusta National field, adding extra pressure to an already challenging situation.
The extended time away from competition has forced Zalatoris to reimagine his preparation routines. Gone are the marathon range sessions that once defined his work ethic, replaced by a more measured approach necessitated by his physical limitations.
"After everything that I've kind of gone through, I'm just glad that I'm able to do this. There were a few moments that I thought I was done, just considering the pain that I was in day to day," he admitted. "But the fact that I'm able to come out and do this again and stripe it the way I did ... it's still really encouraging."
The forced hiatus has allowed Zalatoris to address a longtime weakness in his game. Unable to spend hours hitting balls, he's devoted his energy to putting improvement, including learning to use a broomstick putter.
"It's kind of been a blessing, too, having this time off and not be able to hit balls because I think everybody knows I needed to work on my putting, and that's all I've done for basically the last two years and how to learn to use the broomstick and it's paid off."
Finau, one of the co-leaders, acknowledged the challenging conditions players face at TPC San Antonio, particularly on the closing stretch. "Yeah, 17 and 18, you're going to hear it through eternity. Those two shots, when the wind is off the left, those are nightmare shots, nightmare holes. I've got to play them better over the next few days. But those holes are about as hard as it gets," said Finau.
Finau also credited equipment changes for his strong start. "No, I mean, the putter has been nice. I got a new -- I put in the Scottsdale TEC putter from Ping back in February, about five, six weeks ago. It's kind of been nice to throw a different type of putter in there. I used a blade for a long time, but that mallet seems to be working pretty well," said Finau.
With three rounds remaining, Zalatoris faces a crucial weekend that could determine both his Masters qualification and provide validation for his lengthy rehabilitation journey. The tournament offers a "win and you're in" opportunity for players not already qualified for Augusta National.
For a player who once seemed destined for major championship glory, Thursday's round represents more than just a good score. It's proof that despite the setbacks, surgeries, and uncertain future, the competitive fire still burns bright in one of golf's most determined competitors.