Will Zalatoris a late WD from CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Will Zalatoris’ inauspicious start to 2025 continues.

Zalatoris was announced as a late departure from his hometown event on Wednesday, pulling out of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson outside of Dallas.

The 28-year-old captured the tour’s Rookie of the Year award in 2021 after finishing runner-up at the Masters in his Augusta debut, and followed that campaign up with a marvelous 2022, posting nine top 10s—including two second place finishes at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open—along with his inaugural win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

However, Zalatoris dropped out of the following week’s BMW Championship with a back issue and couldn’t play in that fall’s Presidents Cup. Though he made a handful of starts in 2023 he ultimately underwent back surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He returned in 2024, appearing in 22 events and finishing inside the FedEx Cup’s top 50 last year, but season has been a rough go for Zalatoris. While he has made eight of nine cuts in 2025, he has just one finish inside the top 20 and entered the week 88th in the FedEx Cup standings.

No reason was given for Zalatoris’ decision as of writing. James Hahn will replace Zalatoris in the field.