Two-time major champion Justin Thomas has been medically cleared to resume all golf activities following back surgery in November 2025. The 16-time PGA Tour winner shared the update on social media, expressing excitement about rebuilding strength for a competitive return. He is targeting the Florida Swing as a potential timeline for his comeback.
Justin Thomas, a 32-year-old golfer from Louisville, underwent a successful microdiscectomy in mid-November 2025 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to address a bulging disc in his lower spine that had been causing nagging hip pain. The procedure came shortly after he competed for the U.S. team in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he recorded a 2-2 match record in the Americans' 15-13 loss to Europe on September 26-28, 2025. His last PGA Tour start was the 2025 Procore Championship, a FedEx Cup Fall event.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2026, Thomas announced on Instagram that he is now cleared for all golf activity. "After some follow up imaging and meeting with my Dr and team, I'm officially cleared for all golf activity," he wrote. "It feels great to be swinging freely again and getting some reps in on the course. I'm working hard to build up my strength and stamina to get back into golf shape before competing on the PGA Tour. Can't wait to get out there with the guys!"
The post included videos of Thomas taking full swings with his driver, indicating rapid progress in his recovery. In a January update on X, Thomas noted, "Recovery has gone well. I'm slowly building back my strength and conditioning in the gym, and also hitting wedges/short irons. Little victories and patience have been the biggest part of the process. Taking it slow and listening to how I'm feeling each day! I'm looking to come back competitively at some point during the Florida swing."
Thomas enters 2026 ranked No. 12 in the Official World Golf Rankings. His most recent victory was at the 2025 RBC Heritage, where he defeated Andrew Novak in a playoff for his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. That season, he achieved eight top-10 finishes. A return during the Florida Swing, starting with the Cognizant Classic at PGA National Resort from February 26 to March 1, would position him for the Masters at Augusta National on April 9-12.
