Dr. Tom LaFountain, PGA Tour director of chiropractic services, attributes rising back problems among players to quicker swings and larger prize money. Over 27 years, lower back issues have consistently affected 85 percent of players seeking treatment. He notes that modern players prioritize short-term earnings over long careers.
Dr. Tom LaFountain, who has served as the PGA Tour's director of chiropractic services for 27 years, observes that 85 percent of players entering fitness trailers with pain suffer from lower back issues—a figure unchanged since the late 1990s. However, the severity has increased, now involving not just muscles and joints but also discs, due to changes in the swing. 'The swing is much faster, there is more torque and rotation, there is much more pressure on the lower back,' LaFountain said in a recent interview. He describes an 'arms race for distance' driven by technology like Trackman, contrasting it with past players like Jim Furyk, who accepted shorter drives of 280-290 yards and sustained long careers. In the late 1990s, veterans such as Tom Watson, Jay Haas, and Bernhard Langer competed into their late 40s and beyond without career-ending back problems. They adjusted swing speeds when needed and rarely withdrew mid-tournament, as quitting signaled weakness and forfeited checks. LaFountain highlights that players like Rory McIlroy, 36, who withdrew from the Bay Hill event with a back tweak, doubt they will play professionally into their 50s. Tiger Woods, 50, has played sparingly since 2020. Purse growth fuels this shift: in 1995, the PGA Tour totalled $66 million, with Greg Norman earning $1.6 million; by 2025, it reached $565 million, Scottie Scheffler $19.5 million on-course. 'They’re playing for so much money, and distance is so paramount, that they will swing as hard as they possibly can to make as much money in a short period of time,' LaFountain explained. This mentality is acute for overseas players facing isolation but chasing unmatched earnings. Past longevists like Langer, who emphasized gym work and stretching, represent 'the end of the line,' per LaFountain.
