3. Its also the first of the PGA Tours new elevated events, with a $15 million purse. [12], In October 2021, Zalatoris shot his career low round (61) on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Zalatorisand his playing partner, Emiliano Grillo, let the group of Sam Burns and Adam Hadwin through as they waited for the PGA Tour physio. The post included the caption, Best day of my life. Ive learned a lot about my body, probably more than I think I ever wanted to, Zalatoris said Tuesday afternoon in Hawaii. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. So just keep doing what were doing and let the next win get in the way.. Are they right? 1 spot in the FedEx Cup, assuring him a reasonable shot at the $18 million prize in two weeks. We believe she is now a marketing analyst in Texas. Country Club, FedEx Cup leader Will Zalatoris withdraws from BMW Championship with injury, How can you argue were underpaid?: Will Zalatoris baffled by LIV cash craze, 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, What is Jim Nantzs career lowlight?' Will Zalatoris spent his weekend on the greens, but not the one he's used to. Nothing was more wild than the final hole. Zalatoris has said he gets comparisons to Owen Wilson quite a bit, but the one that gained the most steam during the 2021 Masters was a comparison to Jared van Snellenberg. He secured membership for the remainder of the season on July 7 after a tie for third at the LECOM Health Challenge, and finished the regular season 60th in points, earning full status for the 2020 season.[8]. He had a 25-foot putt for the win on the 18th on the first playoff hole and had to make a 7-footer the second time around to stay in the game. Zalatoris doesn't enter the final round with any cushion because the same club that's troubled him in the early stages of his career can still be a nuisance. The shutdown simplified things.. Will Zalatoris hilariously explained why Phil Mickelson could play Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore remake. One of Zalatoris favorite stories to tell about the three is a time when he and Scheffler were 11 and they played a round with Spieth (who was 14 at the time) at Bent Tree. Fitzpatrick made his first PGA TOUR win a major, claiming the U.S. Open at the same venue where he won the U.S. For the time being, Zalatoris said hes using a 44.75-inch driver shaft, down an inch and a quarter from his former 46-inch gamer. That included events like the 2009 U.S. 8:12 AM on May 21, 2022 CDT Updated at 11:37 PM on Aug 14, 2022 CDT. 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. Besides him, Will Zalatoris' fans showered their blessings on the couple. The bride completed her look with elegant makeup and open hair flowing down her shoulders. This is the best of the best, Zalatoris said Tuesday ahead of the tournament. 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. He even married his longtime sweetheart, Caitlin. When Zalatoris first broke onto the golf scene, golf fans on social media were quick to point out their favorite Zalatoris doppelgngers. After his first TOUR victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in mid-August, the first of three FedExCup Playoffs events, Zalatoris was forced to withdraw during the third round of the following weeks BMW Championship due to injury. Prior to moving to Dallas, he worked at the Detroit Free Press. Weve looked at everything I was doing, to make sure I was doing all the right things and we were checking all the boxes, and it was strictly a motor pattern thing, said Zalatoris, who has opted to temporarily decrease his driver length (to approximately 44.75 inches, down from 46 inches) as he works through the setup change. For the first time in 138 days, Will Zalatoris will play a PGA Tour event this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Zalatoris' rise presents a confluence of charmed bliss and valuable struggle. He hasnt been in a film in nearly 20 years, according to his imdb page. Zalatoris, the ninth-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking, also won't compete in next month's Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, his agent announced on Twitter. During the 2021-2022 PGA Tour season, Will continued to rise in the world of golf. Whether you win or lose, its just what you practice for.. Amateur nearly a decade earlier. 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. Zalatoris told Golf Digest I was lucky. Sandler tweeted Have fun today young man. He tends to push off his right side later than most; with his level of side bend, his right hip is high with his spine tilted back. Please logout and login again. U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Presidents Cup star Tom Kim are among the other first-time TOUR winners who are scheduled to appear at Kapalua. Nevertheless, his first win would not be an easy one. 1 in the world stays with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who missed the cut and spent Sunday playing Pine Valley for the first time. William Patrick Zalatoris (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional golfer. Zalatoris is no longer the best on the PGA Tour without a victory. Zalatoris, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and a big Warriors fan, said his Stephen Curry-inspired retort was directed at all who have criticized his putting over the years. The highlights of the season came when he finished 2nd at both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, then capped off an exceptional season with his first PGA Tour victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images. 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. Now having finally collected a Tour win, Zalatoris will enter the top 10 in the world for the first time, further solidifying him as one of golfs rising stars. 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 . He was born and raised in San Francisco, playing at Cal Club, where he hung with a much older crowd and pounded . Here are 10 things to know about Zalatoris: Most golf fans introduction to Zalatoris was during the 2021 Masters. I feel really good with everything, Zalatoris said. Spieth then birdied six of the next eight holes for a 29 on his way to a course-record 63. Zalatoris was born in San Francisco, California, but his family moved to the Dallas, Texas, area . Before heading off to play collegiately, he won both the Texas State Amateur and the U.S. https://t.co/R1e8awZIvh. He also has three runner-up finishes in major championships. 27 in the Official World Golf Rankings, earned a spot in the tournament through local qualifying, had to withdraw in his British Open debut because of an injury he suffered late in his first round, proposed to his long-time girlfriend Caitlin Sellers, fellow 25-year-old DFW golf star Scottie Scheffler, getting initial golf instruction from former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi as a 6 year old in San Francisco, they were pains from an inflamed appendix, he earned a spot in the field of the 2015 Northern Trust by winning a collegiate showcase, the title he has reserved for former Cowboys QB Tony Romo, 10 things to know about Scottie Scheffler: 25-year-old Masters champ has taken golf world by storm, 10 things you may not know about Jordan Spieth, including how he battled a shark, getting asked out by Miss Texas in a freestyle rap, Find more golf coverage from The Dallas Morning News here, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, Why Rangers cautious approach with pitchers in spring training could still be risky, Jerry Jones talks Dak Prescotts Tom Brady-esque qualities and more from the NFL combine, Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duos on-the-fly rapport gets test from Kevin Durant, Suns, A week after torching the Stars, Max Domi joins Dallas in its march toward the playoffs, DeSotos chase for third straight title continues after rout of Pearland in 6A semifinals, UIL boys basketball playoffs (6A): Tre Johnson, Lake Highlands shine; DeSoto defense rises, 2023 UIL girls state basketball: Schedule, previews and more for Dallas-area teams, 2023 UIL girls basketball state tournament pairings: See schedule for semifinal matchups, 2023 UIL boys basketball regional tournament pairings: See schedule for Dallas-area teams, 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home; suspect in custody, How a Texas districts reaction to school shooting fears highlights discipline concerns. 34 and has a good chance of being part of the top 30 who go to the Tour Championship to play for that $18 million first prize. [13], In January 2022, Zalatoris tied for the lead of the Farmers Insurance Open after 72 holes. Zalatoris entered Augusts BMW Championship in the advantageous No. Find more golf coverage from The Dallas Morning News here. Junior finalists to roommates", "Will Zalatoris Named ACC Player of the Year", "Will Zalatoris, a former Wake Forest star, hitting his stride on the Korn Ferry Tour", "Will Zalatoris wrote his caddie a check for the winner's share, then went and won", "U.S. Open: Will Zalatoris makes hole-in-one, almost does it again later in round", "Will Zalatoris surpasses KFT season earnings with U.S. Open T-6", "Golfer Will Zalatoris is PGA Tour rookie of the year", "Will Zalatoris shoots 61 to share lead at Sanderson Farms", "Luke List beats Will Zalatoris in a playoff at Farmers Insurance Open for first PGA Tour win", "Thomas wins 2nd PGA title in playoff after 7-shot rally", "Will Zalatoris comes up short at U.S. Open, his third runner-up finish at a major: 'I'm going to keep knocking on the door', "Will Zalatoris gets 1st PGA Tour win in playoff at Memphis", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Will_Zalatoris&oldid=1126465827, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 2017 General Hackler Championship, Rod Myers Invitational, Most consecutive cuts made 4 (2022 Masters - 2022 Open Championship, current), This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 13:40. I love you., On Tuesday, also via Instagram, Zalatoris posted a photo of the happy couple with the caption, Cant wait to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. A huge break for Zalatoris? ), PGA Tour makes big changes to 2024 designated events, including smaller fields and no cuts, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational tee times: Round 1 groupings for Thursday. So thats why my speed is the same actually with the shorter driver. But in the name of avoiding future injury, hes working through the proverbial process. The two have been together for more than four years now after meeting at Wake Forest college in late 2018. He played his fourth shot out to 4 feet as Zalatoris was still going over his options. "It's hard to say, 'About time,' when it's your second year on tour, but it's about time," Zalatoris said. In a picture shared on his Instagram page, Will Zalatoris was dressed in blue formals with a matching bow tie while his gorgeous wife Caitlin was in the limelight in her elegant white wedding gown. A month before his Masters breakthrough in 2021, Zalatoris was surprised by Romo with a congratulatory message for qualifying for The PLAYERS Championship. British Open champion Cameron Smith could have replaced Scheffler by winning and arrived at the TPC Southwind two shots out of the lead. The former Wake Forest star and 2014 U.S. Its hard when youre the No. The shorter driver allows him more time to bring a potential right miss back on line, he said. Through it all, he managed to keep his nerve and the dry streak Zalatoris had been enduring since 2018 finally came to an end with one final putt. Will Zalatoris has dealt with his share of anguish in an otherwise impressive PGA Tour season. 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. WD = withdrew Pro V1x Titleist Golf Ball. Ill be better this time. This one could have gone either way, a playoff that featured three penalty drops in three holes, neither player making birdie and Zalatoris winning on the par-3 11th with a bogey. Amateur, when Zalatoris qualified as a 12 year old and competed as a 13 year old, alongside Scheffler and Spieth. He birdied the first hole, made only one other birdie, shot 70 and tied for 13th. Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more. He was born in San Francisco, and growing up he spent his formative golf years playing at the outstanding California Golf Club with his Dad. The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark, and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission. Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the TOUR Championship with two herniated discs in his back. Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. It was quite the scene at Wilmington (Del.) Now, hes back, and at another big-time event. Aiming for his first PGA Tour win, Zalatoris might make the 2022 PGA Championship his first title. He has competed primarily on the PGA Tour, where he has won once, at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship . 70 by three points. And I do it later than a lot of guys, so what that does for someone with a lot of side bend is that gets my right hip high and on my spines tilted back, and so as Dr. Rose said, duh, no wonder I had a back issue.. 27 in the Official World Golf Rankings. "We're talking inches," he says. Yes, as a 14-year-old kid. He went to the drop zone, hit to 7 feet and let his raised hands drop over his head in relief when he made the winning putt. Zalatoris is making his first start since withdrawing from the BMW Championship in August. Let him tell you about adult film, 'It's f----- hard': Jon Rahm comes back to Earth at brutal Bay Hill, How to watch the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday: Round 2 TV schedule, streaming, One of the worst things to happen: Pro rants after PGA Tour change, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational tee times: Round 2 groupings for Friday, How to watch the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational on Thursday: Round 1 TV schedule, streaming, 5 ways the PGA Tour just got better (and 3 ways it got worse! Will Zalatoris was born August 16, 1996, to his parents, Richard Zalatoris and Catherine Zalatoris. 3. The current leader in the FedEx Cup standings. 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. He ranked top-three in both Total Driving and Greens in Regulation on the 2019 and 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour, as well. Zalatoris finds himself competing with other DFW stars like Spieth and Scheffler on a regular basis now that theyre all PGA Tour stars. Will Zalatoris WDs from British Open after feeling 'tingling' in his leg during first round. Thursday afternoon in Hawaii cant come soon enough. Zalatoris had four runners-up including three in major championships before winning in Memphis. The event was the first of three events in the 2022 FedEx Cup Playoffs, With his win, Zalatoris moved to first in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of Scottie Scheffler.[17]. He actually learned the way he generated power could have led to the back issues in the first place. Wake Forest University College. He entered Sunday in a logjam for second at 7 under, four shots back of Matsuyama. Not really. 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. After attending Wake Forest for her undergraduate degree, Sellers went to the University of Texas to complete her Masters degree. PGA:How to watch|ESPN+ streaming|Leaderboard|Saturday tee times. 8 in the standings and is assured his first trip to the Tour Championship at East Lake. It figures Zalatoris struggled to reflect on his numerous close calls over the past three seasons. Zalatoris (back) pulls out of Tour Championship, A battle for No. Ranking all 30 Tour Championship players, The 30 players headed to the Tour Championship and finale of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, Author of seven books on college football. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/12/14/will-zalatoris-gets-married-caitlin-sellers-tournament-of-champions/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, announced his engagement to girlfriend Caitlin Sellers, Zalatoris suffered a back injury on the third hole, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, Will Zalatoris claimed his first victory on the PGA TOUR in dramatic fashion with rounds of 71-63-65-66 to finish at. Will Zalatoris. They checked with Smith, who confirmed it was touching the line. He has suffered two herniated discs and has been away from the game. "Considering where Sepp was and he had 4 feet for 5, there's no reason for me to try that shot and make it bank right into the grass and go back in the water and all of a sudden I've lost the golf tournament," Zalatoris said. Be a little more centered, as opposed to having ball forward with more spine tilt at address, 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. 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. He was captain of his high school golf team and still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Will Zalatoris is married to Caitlyn Sellers. He came close to winning three times in 2022, including two major championships, before finally breaking out for his first victory. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Zalatoris, 24, played in Saturday's final round alongside Justin Rose. 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. An MRI revealed that Zalatoris, 26, had two herniated disks. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup standings after capturing his first PGA Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. Zalatoris just missed earning one of the six automatic spots on the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup. Zalatoris came close to sending the U.S. Open to a playoff on Sunday, only to finish disappointed once again. 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 then withdrew from the following weeks TOUR Championship, finishing a disappointing 30th in the FedExCup after entering the week at No. He also set the individual scoring average of 70.44 at Wake Forest University. Zalatoris was four shots off the lead at Wilmington (Del.) But the role most golf fans know van Snellenberg for is the role of Happy Gilmores caddie in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore. Player Profile: Birthplace. He also fell short of winning the 2022 U.S. Open, with Matthew Fitzpatrick making Zalatoris a major runner-up for the third time. And that would keep. Lucas Glover came away with a consolation prize. When my right hip gets high and the spine tilts back, youre all of a sudden creating all that stress on your back. Scott is the Breaking News Editor for the Dallas Morning News. Each morning, he ate a full breakfast at 6 a.m. and then waited until late in the evening to have a robust dinner. Zalatoris entered August's BMW Championship in the advantageous No. Zalatoris, 26, was injured on the third hole of the third round of the BMW Championship on Saturday at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware. Will and family moved to Dallas, Texas when he was 9 years old and he began working hard on his game while competing in top junior tournaments. Sharing the good news, the Texas native posted a slew of glamorous pictures with a caption that said: Earlier this week, he again took to his social media account to share a happy moment from his wedding. Impact Zalatoris played in his first tournament since tweaking his back at the BMW Championship in August. He was the highest-ranked player in the world without a TOUR win before beating Sepp Straka in a playoff at TPC Southwind. Zalatoris wanted to make swing changes to prevent an injury like this one from happening again. When tournaments started up, I was ready to go. It was actually nice because I was able to bring the ball flight down, which, I mean, I know living in Texas youre used to hitting the ball low, but its doing it by itself as opposed to having to manipulate it. Will Zalatoris and Caitlin Sellers are considered among the most beautiful couples in the sports world. Instead, it looks like the Sentry Tournament of Champions could be the site of his return. He finished the season ranked #1 in SG: Approach and #1 SG: Tee-to-Green. 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. He recorded three 2nd Place finishes, nine Top-10 finishes, and ended the year ranked #7 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Scott Bell, Breaking News Editor. Stars are everywhere on the leaderboard heading into the weekend at Bay Hill. Oosthuizen is teetering on the brink of missing three majors in 2023. After withdrawing from the 2021 Open Championship due to a muscular issue, he finished T8 in his next start, the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational three weeks later. Despite his big win, Zalatoris still has not received his PGA . "Considering all those close finishes, it means a lot.". 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. But those battles started long before they were competing for millions on golfs grandest stage. I spent some time with Dr. Greg Rose at [the Titleist Performance Institute], he said.