The one problem Justin Thomas has been tipped to struggle with after undergoing back surgery

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Justin Thomas’ hopes of building upon an encouraging 2025 season have been dented with the two-time major champion confirming that he has undergone surgery on a back injury.

While Justin Thomas did not manage to get back to his very best this past season, there were plenty of positives for the 32-year-old. He won the RBC Heritage, while he finished second on three occasions on the PGA Tour.

Thomas also won what threatened to be a crucial point for Team USA on Sunday at the Ryder Cup, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a brilliant match.

But there is now a question mark over when he will be back in action.

Justin Thomas facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery

Thomas confirmed on Instagram that he has undergone surgery on a back issue. He added that he is not yet setting a date for his comeback.

The news is obviously extremely disappointing. But Thomas is far from the only top player to face time on the sidelines in recent years, with both Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele taking some time to get going this year.

And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that there is one potential mistake Thomas could now make.

“I think Justin Thomas, being relatively young and in relatively good shape, plus the fact he works with the same trainer that Tiger Woods works with. They have been through this. They know the psychology and protocols they have to go through,” he said.

“I had a chance to talk with Harris English this morning about JT. And if anybody knows about coming back from injury, Harris English had major hip surgery back in 2022, it could have been career ending the things he was dealing with.

“Now he is playing in Ryder Cup teams, he is contending in majors and has won on the PGA Tour since then.

“He said what we always hear from professional athletes. No professional athlete has ever come back too late from an injury.

“Harris actually admitted that ‘I came back too soon’. I was out six months and I got sick and tired of sitting on the couch and did not want to miss another major.

“That is what you have to wrestle with and I think more than anything that will be the one thing JT will struggle with, as you and I both know that he can be a bit of a hard head when it comes to these things.”

The area of the game Justin Thomas needs to prioritise ahead of the 2026 season

There is plenty for Thomas to work on over the coming months. Despite his win at Hilton Head and his impressive results elsewhere, he will be frustrated with his performances in the majors.

Thomas finished no higher than 34th in the four biggest events of the year and missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the US Open.

And it was his driving which caused him the most problems. It was the one strokes gained category where Thomas found himself outside the top 50 on the PGA Tour.

He will be desperate to get back to work and get himself ready for the 2026 season. But clearly, he is going to have to be prepared to take his time and be incredibly patient to ensure that he is only looking at making one comeback.