A highly skilled American athlete, known for his strong performances in major championships in recent years, is preparing to make a comeback in 2026. Warren Gallagher shared details regarding his spinal ailment while present at the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, part of the PGA Tour Champions schedule this week.
“I am hoping for 2026,” Gallagher stated. “I underwent spinal correction approximately four months prior. I am actively participating again — I am exerting effort consistently, engaging in golf regularly, aiming to complete a minimum of 18 openings. It has been an extended endeavor, admittedly, although this represents the most optimistic sentiment I have encountered in three years.
“I perceive the ordeal of three years characterized by spinal discomfort as resolved. Ultimately, I possess the capacity to function as a 29-year-old individual and engage in professional pursuits. I am obtaining considerable guidance this week on the PGA Tour Champions, considering the presence of numerous individuals with extensive physical experience, thus I am undoubtedly compiling information this week.”
Gallagher has not participated in a competitive event subsequent to the 2025 PGA Championship held at Quail Hollow Club. Following an unsuccessful attempt to make the cut, the PGA Tour victor conveyed experiencing some pain and unsteadiness in his back and later revealed that surgical intervention was necessitated on two recurrently herniated discs.
The operation signified the most recent obstacle Gallagher has been compelled to overcome since his momentous triumph at the 2022 St. Jude Championship. Upon securing victory in the inaugural phase of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2022, Gallagher was compelled to withdraw the subsequent week at the BMW Championship attributable to a spinal affliction. Consequently, he was precluded from commencing play at the Tour Championship — where he entered as No. 3 in the FedEx Cup rankings — and disclosed that he had two herniated discs in his spinal structure.
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Gallagher made his return to professional golf at the beginning of 2023; however, his comeback was curtailed. He opted to withdraw shortly before his initial round commencement at the Masters and subsequently underwent a microdiscectomy that weekend. The ensuing season presented some encouragement, as Gallagher participated in a complete schedule while securing the second-place position at the Genesis Invitational and achieving a placement within the top 10 at the Masters.
He satisfied the requirements for the BMW Championship and took part in several events during the autumn timeframe prior to transitioning to his 2025 season, which was ultimately prematurely terminated following the year’s second major tournament.
The 29-year-old commenced his major tournament journey impressively, achieving a top-10 placement in six out of nine major tournament participations from 2020 to 2022. These results encompassed several near-victories, notably a second-place finish to Hideki Matsuyama at the 2021 Masters, a playoff defeat to Justin Thomas at the 2022 PGA Championship, and a one-stroke loss to Matt Fitzpatrick at the U.S. Open in the same year.
Since then, however, Gallagher’s performance and outcomes have deteriorated in conjunction with his physical well-being. He has failed to advance past the cut in his most recent four major tournaments and achieved only one top-10 placement in 2025 prior to his incapacitation.
He aims to resume his momentum towards the conclusion of the year, anticipating participation in the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour from Dec. 4-7, where he secured a T18 position a season prior.
