Zalatoris notches first PGA Tour victory in playoff, A battle for No. Will Zalatoris is married to Caitlyn Sellers. 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. Straka, who played bogey-free over the final 13 holes in regulation, moves to No. Sandler tweeted Have fun today young man. Prior to moving to Dallas, he worked at the Detroit Free Press. Back in 2015, he finished T4 at the Pacific Coast Amateur shortly after returning from an emergency appendectomy. "We're talking inches," he says. The two played golf nearly every day during the pandemic at Bent Tree or Carrolltons Maridoe Golf Club, formerly Columbian Country Club. This is the best of the best, Zalatoris said Tuesday ahead of the tournament. Zalatoris sat atop the FedExCup standings after winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but he had to withdraw early in the third round of the following weeks BMW Championship. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Its hard when youre the No. Shortly after his second-place finish at Augusta, Zalatoris proposed to his long-time girlfriend Caitlin Sellers. 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. 70 by three points. The bride completed her look with elegant makeup and open hair flowing down her shoulders. He lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff in the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The comparisons got so mainstream that even Adam Sandler, star of Happy Gilmore, tweeted Zalatoris during the 2021 Masters and joined the fray. Zalatoris didnt end up winning the hardware that year, but he did hoist the trophy a few years later. He had attended every Nelson since he was 9 years old. "T" = tied He became the first player to be voted Rookie of the Year without having a card in 20 years (Charles Howell III did so in 2001). He has competed primarily on the PGA Tour, where he has won once, at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship . 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. GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine are published by EB GOLF MEDIA LLC, a division of 8AM GOLF, Back from injury, Will Zalatoris reveals swing fix that took stress off his back, What is Jim Nantzs career lowlight? Let him tell you about adult film, Its f hard: Jon Rahm comes back to Earth at brutal Bay Hill. I realized I dont need to be on the range for hours; I need to play. 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. Musician Gryffin congratulated the golfer in the comments section. He came close to winning three times in 2022, including two major championships, before finally breaking out for his first victory. Results not in chronological order before 2019 and in 2020. 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. Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the 2022 BMW Championship in the third round after suffering a back injury, the PGA Tour announced on Saturday. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. [6], Zalatoris turned professional in 2018 but failed to make it past First Stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q School. Country Club when he tweaked his lower back. He teed off at 2:50 p.m. He is fully focused on getting healthy and back onto the course as soon as he is able.". Zalatoris led the TOUR last season in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green, after ranking No. [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. 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. The 26-year-old has long displayed an aptitude for quickly bouncing back from injury. 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. For the first time in 138 days, Will Zalatoris will play a PGA Tour event this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. That included events like the 2009 U.S. Will had an outstanding collegiate and amateur career, which included representing the United States on the 2017 Walker Cup team at Los Angeles Country Club and winning 4 collegiate titles. A feat that would soon eclipsed by his performance at Augusta a month later, but was at the time a career highlight: First PLAYERS.Surprise messages from family and friends. He didnt exactly take it easy during his time off. William Patrick Zalatoris (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional golfer. 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. CUT = missed the half-way cut Junior Amateur title in 2014. He was in the trees, close to a boundary fence on the 18th on the second playoff hole, when he wisely chipped out and made a 15-foot par putt. He teed off at 2:50 p.m. This is the first time Zalatoris has qualified for Kapalua. Amateur Championship titled "Junior talent flourishing on national scale. Yes, as a 14-year-old kid. "This course is where every shot you hit you're on the edge of your seat," Straka said. 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. Meanwhile, No. Impact Zalatoris played in his first tournament since tweaking his back at the BMW Championship in August. Sitting in a hospital bed on the Monday morning of the tournament, Zalatoris had to make one of the toughest phone calls of his life when he dialed up tournament director Jon Drago and withdrew from the tournament. Critics say new PGA Tour events copy LIV. He even married his longtime sweetheart, Caitlin. 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. 1 player strokes gained tee to green this past year, or at least approach, to want to go in and say, hey, you need to make some changes. 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. Im always available for you, Mr. Gilmore. Are they right? Nothing was more wild than the final hole. Kim is the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on TOUR before turning 21. When tournaments started up, I was ready to go. "I am beyond disappointed," he . It was quite the scene at Wilmington (Del.) According to Golf Monthly, Sellers has completed her post-graduate studies at the University of Texas and is most likely working as a marketing analyst. 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. How much "louder" will LIV Golf get in its second season? Be the first one to comment on this story. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup, assuring him a reasonable shot at the $18 million prize in two weeks. Will Zalatoris withdrew from The 149th Open Championship on Friday, citing a back injury suffered while hitting out of heavy rough late in his opening-round 69. Clearly ready to end the first-timers . 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. He even had his favorite spot right off the 18th hole where hed strategically place himself to get autographs from his favorite players. 3. William Patrick Zalatoris (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional golfer. Zalatoris was born in San Francisco, California, but his family moved to the Dallas, Texas, area . A Pennsylvania native, Jack is 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. There's a legitimate possibility it could happen again on Sunday as Will Zalatoris hovers near the top of the leaderboard. One wrote: There was a slew of hundreds of comments from Will Zalatoris's family, friends, and fans congratulating him on the start of the new chapter of his life. Wills strong play continued and he finished in 2nd place at the 2021 Masters Tournament, one stroke behind the champion. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. I love you., A post shared by Will Zalatoris (@willzalatoris). The shorter driver allows him more time to bring a potential right miss back on line, he said. ), 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. The Plano alum walked down the aisle with his long-term girlfriend, Caitlin Sellers, who has been his best friend. Lucas Glover came away with a consolation prize. Clark finished at No. The newly married couple posed for the camera, standing side by side with Will Zalatoris' hands resting on his wife's waist. 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. Also moving into the top 70 were Adam Scott, Andrew Putnam and Wyndham Clark, who had reason to think he had thrown away his chances when he played a four-hole stretch in 4-over par and had to save par on the 18th for a 72. A Golf Channel article said Zalatoris was seeking to return at the Hero World Challenge. Will Zalatoris has been struggling with a back injury since August. Zalatoris, 26, was injured on the third hole of the third round of the BMW Championship on Saturday at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware. "Playing the cutline is one of the toughest things in golf. [4] He was also a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team in 2017, teammates with future PGA Tour winners Collin Morikawa and Cameron Champ. Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023, Dallas Cowboys focused on adding another dynamic offensive weapon, UIL boys basketball playoffs (4A/3A): Faith Family stays composed; Carter finds rhythm. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The 10-foot par putt in regulation was so crucial and the moment so important that Will Zalatoris doesn't remember screaming out when he made it, "What are they gonna say now?". But he took up his teammates offer to come out and hang with the team for a . Oops! He was named the 2017 ACC Player of the Year and 2017 First-Team All-American. The fix: adjusting his setup, with the goal of reducing the strain on his back. [14], In May 2022, Zalatoris finished second in a major championship for the second time. When Zalatoris first broke onto the golf scene, golf fans on social media were quick to point out their favorite Zalatoris doppelgngers. 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?' Tyler Lauletta. 1 spot in the FedEx Cup standings after capturing his first PGA Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. 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 recorded three 2nd Place finishes, nine Top-10 finishes, and ended the year ranked #7 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Zalatoris (back) pulls out of Tour Championship, A battle for No. Zalatoris will collect $500,000 for 30th, or last place . It figures Zalatoris struggled to reflect on his numerous close calls over the past three seasons. Glover closed with a 66 and wound up in a tie for third. They checked with Smith, who confirmed it was touching the line. 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? Zalatoris was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 202021 season. Fitzpatrick made his first PGA TOUR win a major, claiming the U.S. Open at the same venue where he won the U.S. December 1, I think, was the first day I was cleared for full activity, and really just have been doing as much as I can since then not being able to have a club in my hand for a couple months, I dont think Ive done that probably since I was 8 or 9. He admittedly got bored quickly with his recovery routine. Will and Caitlin have been dating each other since they met in 2018 at Wake Forest College. 1. 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, What's to come in the FedEx Cup playoffs after a long-awaited win for Will Zalatoris, PGA Tour docks Smith 2 shots for bad drop, Here are the 70 players who advanced in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Zalatoris is among a notable list of first-time TOUR winners who have committed to the Sentry Tournament of Champions, which will be played Jan. 5-8 at The Plantation Course at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The former Wake Forest star and 2014 U.S. He was born and raised in San Francisco, playing at Cal Club, where he hung with a much older crowd and pounded . At the FedEx St. Jude Championships, Zalatoris entered a three-hole playoff vs. Sepp Straka that could have very well swung Strakas way had some balls bounced differently. Before heading off to play collegiately, he won both the Texas State Amateur and the U.S. He hasnt been in a film in nearly 20 years, according to his imdb page. Zalatoris had honors, but his shot was in trouble immediately. Heading into the PGA Championship, Zalatoris had four top-10 finishes in his first seven career major championship appearances. Junior Amateur title in 2014. Will Zalatoris was born August 16, 1996, to his parents, Richard Zalatoris and Catherine Zalatoris. Your login session has expired. Will and Caitlin stood on stairs decorated with green leaves and flowers, making an arc above their heads on an olive-colored wall. Its just because of the efficiency now of how I push into a golf ball.. The former Wake Forest star was in third position in the FedEx Cup playoffs points standings and was slated to start 3 strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler in his first appearance in the Tour Championship, which begins Thursday. Zalatoris entered August's BMW Championship in the advantageous No. Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis, scores and more. Zalatoris was born in San Francisco, California. He birdied the first hole, made only one other birdie, shot 70 and tied for 13th. Zalatoris ultimately fell one shot short of Matsuyama and finished in solo second place, good for a payday of $1,242,000. The current leader in the FedEx Cup standings. Maintaining a high spot on the OWGR allows golfers who have never won a major to earn exemptions into future majors. Ill be better this time. Zalatorisand his playing partner, Emiliano Grillo, let the group of Sam Burns and Adam Hadwin through as they waited for the PGA Tour physio. September 14, 2022 4:18 pm ET Will Zalatoris had quite the year. Will Zalatoris WDs from British Open after feeling 'tingling' in his leg during first round. Special moment for @WillZalatoris.pic.twitter.com/4ks8CzchhY. After getting initial golf instruction from former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi as a 6 year old in San Francisco, most of Zalatoris learning and development came in Texas after he moved to Texas as a pre-teen. Zalatoris has played just 40 holes since his thrilling playoff with Straka in the opening event of this years FedExCup Playoffs. The Plano alum walked down the aisle with his long-term girlfriend, Caitlin Sellers, who has been his best friend since his college days. PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks. Zalatoris zoomed up the leaderboard Friday with a second-round 65 to take the solo lead at 9 under. 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. The winner of the FedEx Cup championship receives $18 million. 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]. Will Zalatoris found the end of Netflix.. 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 finds himself competing with other DFW stars like Spieth and Scheffler on a regular basis now that theyre all PGA Tour stars. 3. The two have been together for more than four years now after meeting at Wake Forest college in late 2018. Im trying to get more centered over it and work more around my right side, so more a turn as opposed to a lateral shift. An MRI revealed that Zalatoris, 26, had two herniated disks. 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. Find classes that best matches your needs. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Will Zalatoris spent his weekend on the greens, but not the one he's used to. Spieth was three grades ahead of them growing up, but the three found themselves clashing on the junior circuit quite often. "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. Zalatoris was four shots off the lead at Wilmington (Del.) Junior Amateur in 2014. He was the 36-hole leader at the 2022 PGA Championship before ultimately falling short of his first major championship after losing to Justin Thomas in a three-hole playoff. He spent much of his teenage golfing years playing junior tournaments in Texas alongside his friend Jordan Spieth. Zalatoris had four runners-up including three in major championships before winning in Memphis. Ill be better this time. 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. Here are 10 things to know about Zalatoris: Most golf fans introduction to Zalatoris was during the 2021 Masters. Zalatoris took that attitude all the way to the final group on Saturday. 7 World Ranking. Zalatoris, 26, hasn't teed it up since withdrawing during the third. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. But. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I did a pretty deep dive with Damon, my trainer, with Dr. [Greg] Rose, Dr. Duffy, he said of his team. And that would keep. Will Zalatoris after his missed putt on the . But in the name of avoiding future injury, hes working through the proverbial process. But the speeds the same, everything feels really good.. Zalatoris just missed earning one of the six automatic spots on the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup. Start the Golf Season off right with InsideGOLF ($100 value - just $20). The couple, who have been dating for a long time, announced their engagement back in April 2021 and have since been very vocal about their relationship. Zalatoris. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. Will Zalatoris has been nursing a bad back since the FedEx Cup playoffs, but he found an important way to fill his schedule between starts by tying the knot. Fifty-four holes, no cut, that's an easy life" -- Padraig Harrington. In 2009, @dallasnews ran an advance for the 2009 U.S. 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. Zalatoris is no longer the best on the PGA Tour without a victory. But the role most golf fans know van Snellenberg for is the role of Happy Gilmores caddie in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore. The Tour Championship field at East Lake will fall to 29 and the starting strokes for other players in the field will not be affected. Will picked up his first professional victory in 2020 at the TPC Colorado Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. I have watched this 100 times and still cant explain it. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Spieth then birdied six of the next eight holes for a 29 on his way to a course-record 63. But his speed has remained the same as it was from last year when he finished 13th in driving distance on Tour at 314.7 yards a pop. [3] In his junior year, Zalatoris was named All-ACC, First-Team GCAA All-American, First-Team Golf week All-American, Nicklaus Award finalist, Hogan Award semifinalist, played in all 12 events and had a scoring average of 70.14, third-best season average in school history. 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. After sustaining a back injury in the first round of the 149th British Open, Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from his debut at the championship. A month before his Masters breakthrough in 2021, Zalatoris was surprised by Romo with a congratulatory message for qualifying for The PLAYERS Championship. https://t.co/R1e8awZIvh. Zalatoris who grew up in San Francisco, got his start in golf as a youth at the California Golf Club, went to college at Wake Forest and now makes his home in Texas combines the perfect . Zalatoris Masters breakthrough wasnt even the highlight of his month back in April of 2021. Will attended Wake Forest University where he received the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. Player Profile: Birthplace. He is set to return pretty soon. The former U.S. Open champion came into the FedEx Cup playoffs at No. He finished second in two majors this year, losing a playoff to Justin Thomas at the PGA Championship and narrowly missing a birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open that would have tied him with Fitzpatrick. 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. That issue was muscular, not structural like the current one, so it kind of came out of the blue, he said. Thats the most recent tournament he completed before injury struck, and its a feeling hes keen to recapture. ATLANTA -- Will Zalatoris, who picked up his first PGA Tour victory two weeks ago, has withdrawn from the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club because of two herniated disks in his back. "That was another good step for Will," said . Zalatoris qualified for the upcoming Sentry Tournament of Champions by winning his first PGA TOUR title at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.