It came up well short of the green, and as it bounced eight times along the stone facade separating dry land from the water, it . "T" = Tied Will Zalatoris has been struggling with a back injury since August. Our crew of Davis Riley, Kevin Dougherty and Tony Romo played money games five days a week for four months. That win moved him to the top of the Korn Ferry Tour points list and he qualified for the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he finished 6th place. Zalatoris' first professional victory came in July 2020, when he narrowly won the TPC Colorado Championship by one stroke. Will Zalatoris. QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play Theres not much time to shake the rust; Zalatoris is quickly back to the throes of elite competition. That top finish, along with a number of others, secured him Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour which allowed him to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions for the 2020-2021 season. Now, hes back, and at another big-time event. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Watching some of my friends play, going to the Presidents Cup, kind of keeping my mind active and spending some time with the guys back home, even just riding around in a cart when they were playing, Zalatoris described his downtime, keep my mind active, even though my body wouldnt let me. Spieth was three grades ahead of them growing up, but the three found themselves clashing on the junior circuit quite often. "We're talking inches," he says. Having finished runner-up in three majors in his career, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Zalatoris finally collected a title. If that doesnt sound like a household name to you, dont worry. And that would keep alive a crazy stat: of the seven major championships played at Southern Hills, all were won by a player who led or co-led the tournament through 36 holes. Tyler Lauletta. Will Zalatoris found the end of Netflix.. Stars are everywhere on the leaderboard heading into the weekend at Bay Hill. Lucas Glover came away with a consolation prize. 8 in the standings and is assured his first trip to the Tour Championship at East Lake. He had to sit out the Presidents Cup but did appear on-site to cheer on the U.S. Player Profile: Birthplace. I think Ive just been so close so many times, so I think, if anything, after having the time off, its kind of hard to remind myself of all the second places.. [16], On August 14, 2022, Zalatoris won his first PGA Tour event, winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee on the third playoff hole against Sepp Straka. Will and Caitlin have been dating each other since they met in 2018 at Wake Forest College. It was nice because I was able to bring the ball flight down; living in Texas, youre used to hitting the ball low, but its doing it by itself as opposed to having to manipulate it. [9] The win moved him to the leader on the Korn Ferry Tour points list and qualified him for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup standings after capturing his first PGA Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. "It's hard to say, 'About time,' when it's your second year on tour, but it's about time," Zalatoris said. 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, 7 interesting gear finds inside Tommy Fleetwoods golf bag | Bag Spy, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Your login session has expired. He ranked top-three in both Total Driving and Greens in Regulation on the 2019 and 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour, as well. Suddenly the close-call narrative was put to bed he memorably exclaimed, What are they gonna say now! upon draining a par putt on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Sepp Straka at TPC Southwind. Aiming for his first PGA Tour win, Zalatoris might make the 2022 PGA Championship his first title. [2] He attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and was named ACC Player of the Year in 2017. [6], Zalatoris turned professional in 2018 but failed to make it past First Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q School. Back in 2015, he finished T4 at the Pacific Coast Amateur shortly after returning from an emergency appendectomy. Will Zalatoris is set to make his first TOUR start since the BMW Championship last August. Zalatoris made the most of a four-month rehabilitation process after suffering two herniated discs in his back, but its a new year and hes ready to return to competition at this weeks Sentry Tournament of Champions. Will picked up his first professional victory in 2020 at the TPC Colorado Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. Clearly ready to end the first-timers . Nothing was more wild than the final hole. Which is kind of a good thing and a bad thing, because when I was hitting the ball the way that I was, its hard to want to change anything, but at the same time I actually saw some benefits. Not really. Thursday afternoon in Hawaii cant come soon enough. It ended up being the second PGA Tour event of his career he earned a spot in the field of the 2015 Northern Trust by winning a collegiate showcase. Amateur, when Zalatoris qualified as a 12 year old and competed as a 13 year old, alongside Scheffler and Spieth. Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the TOUR Championship with two herniated discs in his back. Szokol opens with 64, up 3 shots in Singapore, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, Rahm sought Tiger's advice on staying No. He previously worked for the DMN sports department from 2010-2022, where he served as SportsDay's lead digital strategist and oversaw coverage of college sports, HS sports, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, soccer and golf. Oosthuizen is teetering on the brink of missing three majors in 2023. He came close to winning three times in 2022, including two major championships, before finally breaking out for his first victory. Representing TCA-Addison in 2014, Zalatoris won the U.S. Musician Gryffin congratulated the golfer in the comments section. Pro V1x Titleist Golf Ball. How much "louder" will LIV Golf get in its second season? He birdied the first hole, made only one other birdie, shot 70 and tied for 13th. Much like fellow 25-year-old DFW golf star Scottie Scheffler (who was born in New Jersey but moved to the Metroplex when he was in elementary school), Zalatoris was born outside of the Lone Star State but moved to Texas as a youngster and thrived in the local golf scene. 121, knowing that only the top 70 advance to the next tournament. Zalatoris Masters breakthrough wasnt even the highlight of his month back in April of 2021. "Playing the cutline is one of the toughest things in golf. [11] He followed it up with a T8 at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, and secured Special Temporary Member status after the Bermuda Championship in early November. After a short visit and numerous stretches, Zalatoris decided to withdraw from the event. Topics of discussion included how Zalatoris seems to always step it up in majors as well as what its like to play in a group behind Tiger Woods. "He is also very disappointed that he will not have the opportunity to play in next month's Presidents Cup, where he was hoping to play for Captain [Davis] Love and represent the United States," Zalatoris' agent, Allen Hobbs, said in a statement. The Players Championship will be contested next week without its biggest draw. TSR3 Titleist Driver. Was all but a lock to make roster as a captains pick, begging the question of who will replace him, How Will Zalatoris turned his putter into a strength. A 24-year-old American golfer who isn't even on the PGA Tour yet won $1.2 million at the Masters and is reveling in his newfound fame. "Add the nerves of competing for a tournament to that, especially for a playoff event, and yeah, it can get a little crazy.". As the news broke on the internet, fans jumped into the comments section of his post to congratulate the newlywed star. He actually learned the way he generated power could have led to the back issues in the first place. Will Zalatoris is married to Caitlyn Sellers. 70 by three points. Wills strong play continued and he finished in 2nd place at the 2021 Masters Tournament, one stroke behind the champion. The 26-year-old has long displayed an aptitude for quickly bouncing back from injury. Will Zalatoris walks back to the crowd with his arm around his fianc after winning his first PGA tournament during the last day of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. I have watched this 100 times and still cant explain it. Will Zalatoris finished second at the Masters in his first time playing Augusta National. 1, LIV Golf's debut on The CW scores low ratings, How to watch PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational on ESPN+, Kirk wins Honda in playoff; 1st title since 2015, Howell (63) wins in Mexico for 1st title in LIV, Nicklaus: '24 schedule likely to aid Honda field, Siem ends 8-year wait for another Euro Tour title, Vu overcomes 6-shot deficit to win 1st LPGA title, FedEx Cup leader Zalatoris WDs with back injury, Who can win the FedEx Cup? Being in contention as much as I was last year, theres just no better feeling than it, Zalatoris said Tuesday. I realized I dont need to be on the range for hours; I need to play. Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. He hasnt been in a film in nearly 20 years, according to his imdb page. Country Club when Zalatoris was being worked on by a PGA Tour physiotherapist on the 5th tee before ultimately deciding the pain was too much. Zalatoris looked to be in trouble from a fairway bunker on the 18th in regulation until he made that 10-footer for par at a 4-under 66. Prior to moving to Dallas, he worked at the Detroit Free Press. I basically am trying to get more, be a little bit more centered as opposed to having kind of ball forward with more spine tilt at address, he said. Nevertheless, his first win would not be an easy one. The two played golf nearly every day during the pandemic at Bent Tree or Carrolltons Maridoe Golf Club, formerly Columbian Country Club. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Junior Amateur title in 2014. Zalatoris just missed earning one of the six automatic spots on the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup. Will Zalatoris and Caitlin Sellers are considered among the most beautiful couples in the sports world. The former Wake Forest star and 2014 U.S. But that showing not only made him a household name to a number of previously unaware golf fans, it also vaulted Zalatoris to No. He tried to play through the injury but withdrew on the next hole. PGA TOUR players on Scottie Schefflers breakout season. But I think the big thing for me is we spent a lot of time understanding the pressures of my golf swing and understanding how I push off my right side. The two have been together for more than four years now after meeting at Wake Forest college in late 2018. His tee shot hit the bank and then bounced seven times on the rocks before coming to rest. Amateur Championship titled "Junior talent flourishing on national scale. He also fell short of winning the 2022 U.S. Open, with Matthew Fitzpatrick making Zalatoris a major runner-up for the third time. Junior Amateur title in 2014. ET in the final group with Mito Pereira. "I am beyond disappointed," he . I mean, weve looked at everything that I was doing to make sure I was doing the right things and we were checking all the boxes and it was just strictly a motor pattern thing, which is kind of a good thing and a bad thing, because when I was hitting the ball the way that I was, its hard to want to change anything, but at the same time, I actually saw some benefits.. Will Zalatoris has dealt with his share of anguish in an otherwise impressive PGA Tour season. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/05/21/will-zalatoris-mexican-food-veg-time-caddie-ryan-goble-2022-pga-championship/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, led or co-led the tournament through 36 holes. The comparisons got so mainstream that even Adam Sandler, star of Happy Gilmore, tweeted Zalatoris during the 2021 Masters and joined the fray. Zalatoris may be an only child, but he still has a big brother. Thats the title he has reserved for former Cowboys QB Tony Romo. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. pic.twitter.com/qtEj1JyZdL. He has suffered two herniated discs and has been away from the game. Straka, already a winner this year in the Honda Classic, narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie putt for the victory on the 18th for a 67. This is the best of the best, Zalatoris said Tuesday ahead of the tournament. WD = withdrew Zalatoris experienced a string of close calls last year namely six top-six finishes in an eight-event stretch, including runner-up finishes at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open before his breakthrough victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Its the PGA TOURs first designated event of 2023, with 17 of the top 20 players on the Official World Golf Ranking set to compete at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. In April 2021, Zalatoris was second in the Masters Tournament with a score of 9-under-par, finishing one stroke behind champion Hideki Matsuyama, the first male Japanese player to win a major. Straka won his first PGA TOUR title earlier in the year at The Honda Classic. It figures Zalatoris struggled to reflect on his numerous close calls over the past three seasons. He got married in December but also spent much of the time rehabbing. Zalatoris didnt end up winning the hardware that year, but he did hoist the trophy a few years later. That included events like the 2009 U.S. Im more efficient in my golf swing -- so thats why the speed is the same with the shorter driver; its just because of the efficiency now of how I push into a golf ball.. Im always available for you, Mr. Gilmore., If youre ever in need of a caddie again let me know. Claims victory in first FedExCup Playoffs event before advancing to BMW Championship, Will Zalatoris new driver before Genesis Scottish Open, For all other business inquiries please contact Allen Hobbs: ahobbs@playersgroupmanagement.com, Our Address: Players Group Management Fan Mail - Will Zalatoris1800 Alexander Bell DriveSuite 200 Reston, VA 20191. Zalatoris. Yes, as a 14-year-old kid. Zalatoris, 24, played in Saturday's final round alongside Justin Rose. The former Trinity Christian Academy-Addison star is one of the top American golfers less than two years removed from grinding on the Korn Ferry Tour. Szokol opens with 64, up 3 shots in Singapore, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, Rahm sought Tiger's advice on staying No. At seventh in the Presidents Cup points standings, he likely would have been among the six . It took three playoff holes to get the answer on Sunday in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and it was more along the lines of what they won't say. During the hiatus, Zalatoris spent time with Greg Rose, a Doctor of Chiropractic at the Titleist Performance Institute, conducting an assessment with the goal of promoting career longevity. After so many near misses, Zalatoris picked up his first PGA Tour victory by defeating Sepp Straka in a playoff at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Aug. 14. It was there that Zalatoris, a 24-year-old upstart that was playing in Korn Ferry Tour events just six months earlier, found himself battling it out with Hideki Matsuyama and fellow DFW product Jordan Spieth for a green jacket. At the end of the 2021 season, Zalatoris was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year an accomplishment nobody would have expected at the start of the year, given the fact that Zalatoris didnt even had a PGA Tour card. Will Zalatoris spent his weekend on the greens, but not the one he's used to. Born in San Francisco, California, Will Zalatoris was introduced to the game early on playing with his parents at California Golf Club. Kim is the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on TOUR before turning 21. I feel really good with everything, Zalatoris said. Its just because of the efficiency now of how I push into a golf ball.. Besides him, Will Zalatoris' fans showered their blessings on the couple. Zalatoris, 26, hasn't teed it up since withdrawing during the third. Zalatoris is no longer the best on the PGA Tour without a victory. Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). When my right hip gets high and the spine tilts back, youre all of a sudden creating all that stress on your back. Special moment for @WillZalatoris.pic.twitter.com/4ks8CzchhY. He even had his favorite spot right off the 18th hole where hed strategically place himself to get autographs from his favorite players. He had no realistic shot. NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after his second-place finish at Augusta, Zalatoris proposed to his long-time girlfriend Caitlin Sellers.