Justin Thomas is set to return to competitive golf at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational after a five-month break. On September 28, 2025, he last played at the Ryder Cup before undergoing surgery.
What happened to Justin Thomas?
He fought a quiet battle against nagging hip pain throughout the 2025 season, which hurt his power and made him miss the cut at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.
The hip pain was actually a bad spinal disc that needed surgery, and on November 13, 2025, Thomas underwent a microdiscectomy. He was placed under strict “BLT” restrictions for several weeks.
Thomas shared health updates from time to time, including clips of him working with resistance bands and gradually moving to chipping and putting around January. He finally got the green light to play full golf again in the middle of February.
Why it matters for Justin Thomas
His return is a huge sense of relief for golf fans, given the severity of the injury. Thomas has played the Arnold Palmer Invitational four times previously, making the cut in every appearance, with a career-best finish of T12 in 2024.
His Strokes Gained: Approach metrics were also among the best in the field last time. Thomas helped his team, Atlanta Drive GC, to win a game against Rory McIlroy’s Boston team in the TGL, testing his back before returning to the PGA Tour.
What comes next for Justin Thomas?
The PGA Tour posted a video on X of JT’s grueling practice session in a purple polo and shorts at the Bay Hill course. Standing before a massive pile of golf balls, Thomas was seen working through his mid-irons with a launch monitor.
Fans are surprised by JT’s effortless return to the big stage after surgery, with one fan saying, “JT at Bay Hill after surgery is the comeback energy we all need heading into spring golf season. Welcome back.” Thomas is ready to bring his signature swing and momentum to the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The 32-year-old broke a three-year winless drought at the RBC Heritage in April 2025, and his win, along with several other top-10 finishes, allowed him to take a break and not compete in the fall. Now, he is back and ready to take on the competition at Bay Hill.