Justin Thomas communicated Friday evening that he underwent a microdiscectomy this week to remedy a spinal ailment that had been triggering persistent discomfort in his hip region during the past several months. Thomas, who has already been released from medical care, shared a video while standing, suggesting he was favorably recuperating from the procedure.
Thomas refrained from establishing a specific duration for his return to competitive golf but mentioned he will be absent for at least the commencement of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
“The upcoming weeks will primarily involve relaxation before the commencement of the rehabilitation process,” Thomas expressed. “I have an exceptional support system that I have complete confidence in to restore me to an even superior condition than before! Anticipating inquiries, I am refraining from designating any particular tournament or timeline for my comeback. While I will be unable to participate in certain events at the beginning of 2026, I aim to exercise prudence and patience in permitting my disc to completely mend to prevent future complications. I am fortunate that the sport of golf enables us to compete at a high level for an extended period, and I intend to capitalize on that – this procedure will facilitate that objective without subsequent injuries. I eagerly anticipate reuniting with everyone on the course.”
The 2026 PGA Tour season will initiate later than initially scheduled after The Sentry experienced a cancellation due to drought conditions prevalent in Hawaii. Thomas will abstain from setting a firm return date, emphasizing his commitment to patience and allowing the disc to fully recover to avert any lingering problems.
In conjunction with missing PGA Tour competitions, Thomas will also be unable to participate in the forthcoming Skins Game event on Black Friday. He was slated to contend alongside Keegan Bradley, Tommy Fleetwood, and Xander Schauffele at his Panther National golf facility situated in Florida. An immediate replacement for Thomas was not disclosed on Friday.
Thomas will additionally be absent from the start of the TGL season. The second iteration of the simulator golf league is scheduled to commence on Dec. 28, and given Thomas’s anticipated absence from tournaments in the 2026 season, it is highly probable that he will be sidelined for at least a portion of the TGL season representing the Atlanta Drive.
The 2025 season signified a resurgence for Thomas, who secured his first triumph since 2022 at the RBC Heritage and accumulated three second-place results among his eight top 10 finishes. This performance secured Thomas a position on the United States Ryder Cup team and reintegrated him into discussions among the elite golfers. Thomas’s form declined later in the year, registering only one top 10 in his concluding six events, and it has now emerged that a portion of this was attributable to hip discomfort stemming from a disc-related issue.
