Will Zalatoris
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William Patrick Zalatoris (born August 16, 1996) is an American professional golfer. He has competed primarily on the PGA Tour, where he has won once, at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. He also has three runner-up finishes in major championships.
Key Information
Early life and amateur career
[edit]Zalatoris was born in San Francisco, California on August 16, 1996, to Catherine and Richard Zalatoris.[3] He was an only child.[4] His parents worked in real estate.[5] His mother was once a track and field athlete at the University of Oregon, specializing in middle-distance running.[6]
Both of his parents were recreational golfers, and his mother continued to play golf while carrying him until three weeks before he was born. He received his first plastic club when he was 18 months old.[7] He learned to play the game at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City, California.[8] His parents belonged to California Golf Club, where Zalatoris played alongside his father. Also at Cal Club, he met 1964 U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi when he was six. Venturi gave him advice on his grip, although Zalatoris was unaware who Venturi was at the time.[7][9]
At age nine, Zalatoris moved with his family to Texas.[8] He grew up at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas.[6] He often competed against fellow Dallas-area golfers Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler in junior tournaments.[6][9] Zalatoris attended Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, where he was a four-year letterman.[3] In June 2014, he won the Texas Amateur Championship.[7] He won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur in July. Two weeks later, Zalatoris won the U.S. Junior Amateur. He defeated Davis Riley, 5 and 3, in the final.[10][11]
Zalatoris had planned to attend Stanford University, but was offered the Arnold Palmer Scholarship by Jerry Haas to play for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Wake Forest University in North Carolina beginning in fall 2014.[6] He majored in psychology.[6] Zalatoris won his first individual collegiate title at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in October 2014, scoring 10-under to finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Denny McCarthy.[12]
In September 2015, Zalatoris won his second collegiate title. He birdied the final hole to win the Rod Myers Invitational by one stroke.[13] In July 2016, Zalatoris won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur for the second time, and the Pacific Coast Amateur.[14] He was chosen to represent the United States at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup.[15] He won medalist honors for the third time in his collegiate career at the General Hackler Championship in March 2017.[16]
As a junior, Zalatoris was named ACC Player of the Year in 2017.[17] He was also named All-ACC, First-Team GCAA All-American, First-Team Golfweek All-American, Ben Hogan Award semifinalist, and Jack Nicklaus Award finalist.[18] He was selected as a member of the U.S. team in the 2017 Walker Cup, alongside future PGA Tour winners such as Collin Morikawa.[19][20] Zalatoris left school after his junior year to turn professional.[21] His collegiate scoring average was 70.44, which broke the Wake Forest record of 70.87 set by Bill Haas (2001–04).[20][22]
Professional career
[edit]2018–2020: Early years
[edit]Zalatoris decided in December 2017 to forego his final semester of university and turn professional at the start of 2018.[23] He made six starts on the PGA Tour in 2018, making only one cut.[6] Towards the end of 2018, Zalatoris competed in qualifying school for the Web.com Tour. He failed to advance past the first stage.[24] With no status in 2019, he relied on Monday qualifying and sponsor exemptions to play on the Web.com Tour (later renamed the Korn Ferry Tour). Zalatoris secured membership for the remainder of the season after a third-place finish at the LECOM Health Challenge in July.[20] He finished the regular season 60th in points, earning full status for the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season.[25]
Zalatoris's first professional victory came in July 2020, when he won the TPC Colorado Championship by one stroke.[26] The win was one of his 11 consecutive top-20 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour.[20] This moved him atop the Korn Ferry Tour points list and qualified him for the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club,[27] which was delayed to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Winged Foot, he aced the par-3 seventh hole during the first round.[28] He made the cut and finished in a tie for sixth-place, alongside world number one Dustin Johnson; it was his first top-10 finish in a major championship.[29] He followed it up with a T8 at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship the next week, and a T5 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October. Zalatoris secured Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour after finishing tied-16th at the Bermuda Championship in November.[30]
2021–2022: Major championship contention, first PGA Tour victory
[edit]Zalatoris recorded top-15 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open, Genesis Invitational, and Arnold Palmer Invitational in the first few months of 2021. These performances helped move him into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and qualify him for the 2021 Masters Tournament In April.[31] Zalatoris shot rounds of 70-68-71 to position himself in tied-second place headed into Sunday.[31] Seeking to become the first debutant to win the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, he shot 2-under 70 in the final round to finish solo-second, one stroke behind winner Hideki Matsuyama.[32]
At the 2021 PGA Championship in May, he finished tied-8th. Zalatoris was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2020–21 season. He became the first special temporary member to win the award since Charles Howell III in 2001.[33] In October 2021, Zalatoris shot his career-low round (11-under 61) on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship.[34]
In January 2022, Zalatoris was tied for the lead of the Farmers Insurance Open after 72 holes alongside Luke List. He lost in the sudden-death playoff after List birdied the first playoff hole.[35] At the 2022 Masters Tournament, Zalatoris shot a final-round 67 to finish tied-sixth.[36]
Zalatoris finished runner-up in a major championship for the second time in his career at the 2022 PGA Championship in May. He lost to Justin Thomas in a three-hole aggregate playoff at Southern Hills Country Club.[37] At the 2022 U.S. Open the following month, Zalatoris recorded another second-place finish in a major. He tied with Scottie Scheffler at 5-under, one stroke behind winner Matt Fitzpatrick at The Country Club.[38]
In August 2022, Zalatoris won his first PGA Tour event at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He defeated Sepp Straka in a playoff to claim the title. 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.[39] In his next start at the BMW Championship, Zalatoris withdrew due to a back injury.[40] He also withdrew from the Tour Championship the following week, where he was seeded third, due to the injury,[41] which was diagnosed as two herniated discs.[42] He stated that the back problems had originated at the 2021 Open Championship, when he attempted to hack the ball out of some thick fescue. He said at times the pain from the herniated discs was unbearable.[43]
2023–2025: Back surgeries
[edit]Zalatoris returned from his disc herniation in January 2023 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, where he finished tied-11th.[44][45] He finished fourth at the Genesis Invitational in February.[46] Zalatoris was approached by LIV Golf, but remained on the PGA Tour. Former world number one Fred Couples, who shared the same agent as Zalatoris, stated in March 2023 that LIV had offered a $130-million contract to Zalatoris.[47][48]
Shortly before the 2023 Masters Tournament began in April, Zalatoris withdrew due to injury. He stated that he jarred his back while warming up for his opening round, and "started feeling the symptoms go down [his] legs". He considered teeing it up and playing through the pain, but decided it would be prudent to withdraw.[43] He said a few days later that he had "underwent a successful microdiscectomy" to address his herniated discs, and announced he would miss the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[42][46] He was unable to swing a golf club for five months after the surgery. Prior to his injury, Zalatoris was one of the best ballstrikers in the world, so he and his coaches were reluctant to change his swing. During his recovery, an effort was made to rework his swing and address the excessive sidebend which had caused strain on his back.[49][50]
Zalatoris made his return on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2024. He finished runner-up at the 2024 Genesis Invitational the following month, which was the first time he was in contention to win a tournament since the surgery.[49] He also finished tied-9th at the 2024 Masters Tournament in April,[43] but did not record another top-10 finish for the rest of the year.[51] Zalatoris's swing coach Troy Denton said in 2024 that, in layman's terms, Zalatoris had "an old man's back".[49] Zalatoris underwent a second back surgery in May 2025 after an MRI following the 2025 PGA Championship showed that he had re-herniated two discs.[51] He stated that he suffered from "discomfort and instability in [his] back that progressively got worse" during the year. At the time, he was ranked 84th in the Official World Golf Ranking and had missed the cut in each of his last four major championships starts.[52]
Personal life
[edit]At the 2018 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Zalatoris played alongside former NFL quarterback Tony Romo. Both Zalatoris and Romo are members of Maridoe Golf Club, located outside of Dallas, and regularly play golf together. Zalatoris said in 2021 that Romo has "been a big brother to me".[53]
Zalatoris met his wife Caitlin Sellers while at Wake Forest University. They became engaged in 2021, and married in 2022.[54][55]
During the recovery from his back surgery in 2023, Zalatoris returned to complete his psychology degree at Wake Forest University. He had a couple of elective courses remaining when he left a semester early during his senior year in 2017.[56][57]
In popular culture
[edit]During and after the 2021 Masters Tournament, actor Adam Sandler and others on social media brought attention to Zalatoris's resemblance to the young mistreated unnamed caddy in Happy Gilmore portrayed by Jared Van Snellenberg.[58][59] Zalatoris subsequently appeared in the film's 2025 sequel as a fictionalized version of himself, depicted as the same young caddy from the original film who now plays golf professionally while resenting Happy for his previous mistreatment.[60][61]
Amateur wins
[edit]- 2014 Texas Amateur Championship, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate
- 2015 Rod Myers Invitational
- 2016 Trans-Mississippi Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur
- 2017 General Hackler Championship, Rod Myers Invitational
Source:[62]
Professional wins (2)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (1)
[edit]| Legend |
|---|
| FedEx Cup playoff events (1) |
| Other PGA Tour (0) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 14, 2022 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | −15 (71-63-65-66=265) | Playoff |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022 | Farmers Insurance Open | Lost to birdie on first extra hole | |
| 2 | 2022 | PGA Championship | Lost three-hole aggregate playoff; Thomas: −2 (4-3-4=11), Zalatoris: x (4-4-x=x) | |
| 3 | 2022 | FedEx St. Jude Championship | Won with bogey on third extra hole |
Korn Ferry Tour wins (1)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 4, 2020 | TPC Colorado Championship | −15 (67-67-70-69=273) | 1 stroke |
Playoff record
[edit]European Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022 | PGA Championship | Lost three-hole aggregate playoff; Thomas: −2 (4-3-4=11), Zalatoris: x (4-4-x=x) |
Results in major championships
[edit]Results not in chronological order before 2019 and in 2020.
| Tournament | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 2 | T6 | T9 | CUT | ||||
| PGA Championship | T8 | 2 | T43 | CUT | ||||
| U.S. Open | CUT | T6 | CUT | T2 | CUT | |||
| The Open Championship | NT | WD | T28 | CUT |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
[edit]| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Totals | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 9 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (2022 Masters – 2024 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship
[edit]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | T17 | T26 | 73 | CUT | T30 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships
[edit]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | T22 | ||
| Match Play | T28 | QF | T59 |
| Invitational | T8 | ||
| Champions | NT1 | NT1 | |
1Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament
Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. The Champions was discontinued from 2023.
U.S. national team appearances
[edit]Amateur
- The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship: 2015 (winners)
- Arnold Palmer Cup: 2016
- Walker Cup: 2017 (winners)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Will Zalatoris – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "Week 39 2022 Ending 25 Sep 2022" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Will Zalatoris – Men's Golf". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Shefter, David (July 20, 2011). "14-year-old Texan competing in third Junior Amateur advances to round of 16". USGA.
- ^ Sapakoff, Gene (April 12, 2021). "'Dream' Masters for unlikely runner-up, ACC star Zalatoris". Post and Courier. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Zalatoris, Will (April 10, 2021). "Masters 2021: How Will Zalatoris made it on tour with talent, grit and being "a little sick"". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Will Zalatoris wins Texas State Amateur". AmateurGolf.com. June 15, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Kroichick, Ron (February 12, 2021). "Giant strides: S.F. native Will Zalatoris soars in golf circles, savors Bay Area roots". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Sherrington, Kevin (April 14, 2021). "As Will Zalatoris rises to challenge Jordan Spieth, are we witnessing the birth of another great Texas golf rivalry?". Dallas News. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris wins U.S. Junior Amateur". AmateurGolf.com. July 26, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Wildhack, Sean (April 3, 2020). "Zalatoris, Riley progress from U.S. Junior finalists to roommates". PGA Tour. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ Romine, Brentley (October 12, 2014). "Zalatoris picks up 1st win in Wake Forest victory". Golfweek. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "Zalatoris' Birdie on 18 Clinches Rod Myers Title". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris Claims Title at 50th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship". Washington Golf. July 30, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Etzler, Allen (October 4, 2016). "Arnold Palmer Scholarship leaves a lasting legacy for Wake Forest golfers". Golfweek. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Casey, Kevin (March 12, 2017). "Wake Forest, Will Zalatoris win General Hackler as third round cancelled". Golfweek. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris Named ACC Player of the Year". Wake Forest University Athletics. May 11, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris – Men's Golf". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Meet the USA Walker Cup team". USGA. August 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Quinn, Brendan (October 2, 2020). "The growing legend of Will Zalatoris". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Dell, John (July 1, 2020). "Will Zalatoris, a former Wake Forest star, hitting his stride on the Korn Ferry Tour". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris Turns Professional". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Herrington, Ryan (December 14, 2017). "Wake Forest senior All-American announces he's turning pro, foregoing final semester". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ "First Stage – The Woodlands, TX". BlueGolf. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ Wildhack, Sean (July 2, 2020). "Will Zalatoris claims 36-hole lead at TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes". PGA Tour. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Romine, Brentley (July 4, 2020). "Will Zalatoris wrote his caddie a check for the winner's share, then went and won". Golf Channel. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ Shedloski, Dave (December 29, 2020). "In marathon season on Korn Ferry Tour, some are in prime position and others will play catchup". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Todd (September 17, 2020). "U.S. Open: Will Zalatoris makes hole-in-one, almost does it again later in round". Golfweek. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ Gray, Will (September 21, 2020). "Will Zalatoris surpasses KFT season earnings with U.S. Open T-6". Golf Channel. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ Beall, Joel (November 1, 2020). "Rising star Will Zalatoris secures temporary membership on PGA Tour". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "Why Will Zalatoris is on the verge of becoming a household name as he finds success at 2021 Masters". CBS Sports. April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Romine, Brentley (April 12, 2021). "Now in full bloom, Will Zalatoris nearly cooks up victory in Masters debut". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ "Golfer Will Zalatoris is PGA Tour rookie of the year". ESPN. Associated Press. September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris shoots 61 to share lead at Sanderson Farms". ABC News. Associated Press. October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ Kelly, Todd (January 29, 2022). "Luke List beats Will Zalatoris in a playoff at Farmers Insurance Open for first PGA Tour win". Golfweek. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ May, Peter (June 20, 2022). "Will Zalatoris, Three-Time Major Runner-Up, Is Getting Impatient". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (May 22, 2022). "Thomas wins 2nd PGA title in playoff after 7-shot rally". Associated Press News. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Skiver, Kevin (June 20, 2022). "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'". The Sporting News. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (August 15, 2022). "Will Zalatoris gets 1st PGA Tour win in playoff at Memphis". Associated Press News. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
- ^ Beall, Joel (August 20, 2022). "Will Zalatoris' WDs mid-round at the BMW Championship with a back injury". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Hamel, Riley (August 23, 2022). "Will Zalatoris withdraws from Tour Championship at East Lake, won't play in Presidents Cup". Golfweek. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "Will Zalatoris, runner-up at 2 majors last year, out for season after back surgery". The New York Times. April 12, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c "After Masters, what's ahead for golfer Will Zalatoris?". WRDW. April 15, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Wall, Jonathan (January 19, 2023). "Why the numbers written on Will Zalatoris' driver are so important". Golf Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ "Here's the record-setting prize money payout for each golfer at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions". Golf Digest. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Schlabach, Mark (April 10, 2023). "Zalatoris has back procedure, to miss golf season". ESPN. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Gottfried, Greg (March 16, 2023). "Will Zalatoris turned down $130 million from LIV Golf, according to Fred Couples". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Gilbert, Myles; Hennessey, Stephen (July 19, 2023). "Will Zalatoris confirms he had a 'very intriguing offer' to join LIV, explains why he didn't really consider it". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c Uggetti, Paolo (March 6, 2024). "'This is what I've missed:' How Will Zalatoris got his health and swagger back". ESPN. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Oliver, Angus (April 9, 2024). "Will Zalatoris is back – and ready to put Masters nightmare to bed". The Times. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Zalatoris out until fall after undergoing second back surgery". Yahoo Sports. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Schlabach, Mark (May 26, 2025). "Zalatoris gets another back surgery; season over". ESPN. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Piastowski, Nick (April 10, 2021). "The advice Tony Romo gave Will Zalatoris before his Masters breakthrough". Golf Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Powers, Christopher (April 26, 2021). "Will Zalatoris gets engaged, continues epic life run". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Schmitt, Tim (December 14, 2022). "Will Zalatoris gets married to Caitlin Sellers, expected to return to action at Tournament of Champions". Golfweek. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ Romine, Brentley (November 28, 2023). "'A patience game': After a prudent 7 months, Will Zalatoris returns from surgery at Hero". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Lavner, Ryan (February 18, 2024). "Emotional Will Zalatoris reveals death of family member earlier in week". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- ^ Barron, Tory (April 11, 2021). "Adam Sandler has entered the Will Zalatoris-Masters chat". ESPN. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Duffy, Patricia (August 15, 2022). "Adam Sandler congratulates 'Happy Gilmore' caddie doppelganger Will Zalatoris after first PGA Tour win". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Schrock, Josh (July 30, 2025). "Happy Gilmore 2 cameo breakdown: Scottie shines, Bryson's awkward line". Golf Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Ryan, Shane (July 26, 2025). "A definitive ranking of every golfer cameo in 'Happy Gilmore 2'". Golf Digest. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ "Will Zalatoris". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Will Zalatoris at the PGA Tour official site
- Will Zalatoris at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
- Wake Forest University Athletics – Will Zalatoris
Will Zalatoris
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Childhood and family background
Will Zalatoris was born on August 16, 1996, in San Francisco, California, to parents Richard and Catherine Zalatoris.[8] [9] His father, Richard, introduced him to golf at a young age by taking him to courses in California, while his mother, Catherine—a University of Oregon graduate and former member of its track and field team—instilled a competitive drive in the family dynamic.[10] [4] [11] The family relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Dallas, Texas, suburb of Plano when Zalatoris was nine years old, a move he later described as beneficial for his development in a golf-rich environment.[12] [13] Both parents were recreational golfers themselves, creating a household supportive of the sport from Zalatoris's earliest years; he received his initial lessons at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City, California.[14] [13] The Zalatoris surname originates from Eastern European roots, particularly associated with Lithuanian heritage, though the family is American-born and raised.[15] Richard and Catherine made significant sacrifices to nurture their son's talent, including travel for junior competitions and prioritizing his athletic pursuits over conventional paths.[11]High school and early golf exposure
Zalatoris relocated to Dallas, Texas, at age nine, after which he dedicated significant effort to refining his golf skills and entering competitive junior events.[3] At Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, he competed on the high school golf team under coach Marshall Edwards for four years.[16][17] During his freshman year, Zalatoris served as co-medalist at a tournament in Indio, California, posting rounds of 69, 67, and 76 for a four-under-par total of 212, tying with Jordan Spieth of Jesuit College Preparatory School.[18] Later, he claimed the individual championship at the TAPPS 5A Regional Championship, carding 67-66-75 to win by eleven strokes and help his team secure the title.[19] In 2014, as a senior, Zalatoris won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at The Club at Shady Canyon in California, defeating Davis Riley 2-and-1 in the 36-hole final match.[20] That year also saw him triumph in the Texas Amateur, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, and The Champions Invitational, where he dominated the field.[21] These successes capped a junior career that included five U.S. Junior Amateur appearances over six years.[21]College career at Wake Forest
Zalatoris enrolled at Wake Forest University in the fall of 2014 and joined the Demon Deacons men's golf team. As a freshman in the 2014–15 season, he posted a stroke average of 70.07, the second-best single-season mark in program history, and earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors.[22] He secured his first collegiate victory at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, shooting 10-under par over two rounds to lead Wake Forest to the team title, and also won the inaugural Northern Trust Collegiate Showcase.[23] [24] In his sophomore year (2015–16), Zalatoris maintained strong performance with a 70.58 stroke average across 11 tournaments, recording eight top-10 finishes, including three top-fives.[25] He was selected to the All-ACC team for the second consecutive season.[22] Zalatoris's junior season (2016–17) marked his most dominant year, as he competed in all 12 events with a 70.14 stroke average—the third-best in school history—and captured the individual title at the General Hackler Championship.[4] He received ACC Player of the Year and first-team All-American accolades, along with his third All-ACC selection.[22] [3] Over his three-plus seasons, Zalatoris amassed four tournament victories, 15 top-five finishes, and 24 top-10s in 40 events, establishing a career stroke average of 70.44 that set a Wake Forest record.[22] In December 2017, following his junior year and participation in the Walker Cup for Team USA, he announced his decision to forgo his senior season and turn professional.[22]Amateur career
Key amateur victories
Zalatoris achieved a remarkable summer sweep in 2014 as an incoming freshman at Wake Forest University. In June, he won the 105th Texas Amateur Championship at Stevens Park Golf Course in Tyler, Texas, firing a final-round 3-under-par 68 to hold off Stratton Nolen by two strokes for his first major amateur title.[26] Shortly thereafter, he captured the 111th Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, defeating the field in stroke play despite weather-shortened conditions.[27] Culminating the streak, Zalatoris won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, on July 25, defeating Davis Riley of Mississippi 5 and 3 in the 36-hole final after posting an even-par 140 in stroke play to advance.[28][27] Building on this success, Zalatoris secured two more significant victories in the summer of 2016. He repeated as Trans-Mississippi Amateur champion at July's 113th edition at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas, carding a 72-hole total of 6-under-par 274 to edge the field by one stroke.[29] Later that month, he claimed the 50th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship at Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Quebec, defeating Nahum Mendoza of California in a two-hole playoff after both finished regulation at 7-under-par.[30] These wins, alongside four collegiate tournament triumphs during his time at Wake Forest, underscored his elite ball-striking prowess and competitive edge in high-level amateur competition.[4]International and national team appearances
Zalatoris represented the United States in the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship in 2015, a mixed-gender team event featuring national squads from multiple countries held at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, where Team USA secured the overall victory and he personally earned two gold medals.[31] In 2016, he competed for the U.S. collegiate team in the Arnold Palmer Cup at Formby Golf Club in England, posting an individual record of 1 win, 3 losses, and 0 halves in matches against Europe; the American squad fell short in the competition.[31] Zalatoris capped his amateur career with selection to the U.S. team for the Walker Cup in 2017 at Los Angeles Country Club, where he went undefeated at 4-0-0 across four matches, contributing to America's dominant 19-7 triumph over Great Britain and Ireland.[32][31]| Event | Year | Team | Personal Record | Team Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship | 2015 | United States | 2 gold medals | Winners |
| Arnold Palmer Cup | 2016 | United States (vs. Europe) | 1-3-0 | Loss |
| Walker Cup | 2017 | United States (vs. Great Britain & Ireland) | 4-0-0 | 19-7 win |
Transition to professionalism
On December 14, 2017, Zalatoris announced his decision to forgo his final semester at Wake Forest University and turn professional, having already completed his major requirements in psychology.[33][34] This followed a standout collegiate tenure marked by four individual victories, 15 top-5 finishes, 24 top-10 results across 40 events, and a school-record career scoring average of 70.44; he had also earned ACC Player of the Year honors in 2017 and competed for the U.S. team in the Walker Cup that September.[22][35] Zalatoris officially turned professional at the outset of the 2018 season, initially relying on sponsor exemptions for PGA Tour starts, including a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.[20][1] Lacking full status, he entered qualifying school for the Korn Ferry Tour (then Web.com Tour) later that year but failed to advance past the first stage, prompting a reliance on Monday qualifiers and limited developmental tour play to build momentum.[36][37] These early hurdles underscored the challenges of transitioning without immediate card access, as he navigated inconsistent putting and status uncertainties while competing against established professionals.[36]Professional career
2018–2020: Korn Ferry Tour success and PGA Tour debut
Zalatoris turned professional in January 2018 following his junior year at Wake Forest University, forgoing his senior season to pursue a career on the developmental tours.[33] His initial PGA Tour start came at the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2018, where he missed the cut after rounds of 73 and 75.[20] In late 2018, Zalatoris entered Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School but failed to advance beyond the first stage, limiting his access to full membership for the 2019 season.[38] He competed selectively in 2019 Korn Ferry Tour events through sponsor exemptions and other pathways, finishing 60th on the regular-season points list with 1,038 points, which granted him full exempt status for the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season.[39] The 2020 season marked Zalatoris's breakthrough on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he achieved eight top-10 finishes from June to September, including his first professional victory at the TPC Colorado Championship on July 12, 2020.[37] In that event, he shot a final-round 66 to finish at 15-under-par 273, winning by one stroke over Colorado native Sean Johnson.[40] The victory propelled him to the top of the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, a position he maintained through consistent results, including 11 consecutive top-20 finishes across the season.[40][39] Zalatoris's Korn Ferry Tour performance earned him entry into the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club, marking his professional major debut and first significant PGA Tour appearance on September 17, 2020.[3] He finished tied for sixth at 5-under-par, carding rounds of 70-69-71-73 amid challenging rough and firm greens, earning $402,765 and demonstrating readiness for elite competition.[41] This result highlighted his accuracy off the tee and strong iron play, positioning him for conditional PGA Tour status and further exemptions in subsequent seasons.[42]2021–2022: Major contention and first PGA Tour win
Zalatoris made his major championship debut at the 2021 Masters Tournament, where he finished second at 9 under par with rounds of 70-68-71-70, one stroke behind winner Hideki Matsuyama.[43][44] This performance earned him $1,242,000 and propelled him to PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2020-21 season.[7] Following the Masters, Zalatoris recorded multiple top-10 finishes, including a tie for sixth at the U.S. Open in 2021, solidifying his status as an emerging contender.[45] Entering 2022, Zalatoris continued his strong form with a second-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.[45] At the PGA Championship, he again placed second, carding 66-65-73-71 for 275, four strokes behind Justin Thomas after a playoff-deciding birdie by Thomas on the 18th hole.[46][47] He tied for second at the U.S. Open at 5 under par.[48][45] Zalatoris secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, defeating Sepp Straka in a three-hole playoff without recording a birdie in the aggregate playoff.[49] This win, achieved with rounds including strong positioning on the leaderboard, marked his breakthrough after six top-10 major finishes without a prior Tour title.[45] The victory elevated his world ranking to 14th, the highest for any first-time winner that season.[50]2023–2024: Initial back injury, surgery, and partial returns
Zalatoris' back issues, which had persisted intermittently since late 2022, escalated acutely during preparations for the 2023 Masters Tournament. On April 6, 2023, he withdrew shortly before his scheduled first-round tee time at Augusta National after experiencing severe stiffness and pain during warm-up, marking the culmination of ongoing discomfort that limited his early-season play.[51][52] Two days later, on April 8, he underwent microdiscectomy surgery to address a herniated disc pressing on a spinal nerve, a procedure aimed at alleviating chronic pain and instability.[53][54] The surgery forced him to miss the remainder of the 2023 PGA Tour season, with recovery emphasizing rehabilitation to prevent re-injury.[55] Following approximately seven months of recovery, including swing adjustments for greater sustainability and reduced strain, Zalatoris returned to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge in December 2023.[56] In his first rounds since the surgery, he posted scores of 81 and 68, finishing last at +11 but demonstrating progress in managing physical limitations.[57] This non-PGA Tour event served as a low-pressure re-entry, allowing him to test durability without full-season demands.[58] Zalatoris resumed PGA Tour competition in January 2024, marking his first official start since March 2023, with a selective schedule focused on back preservation.[59] He achieved a ninth-place finish at the Masters in April 2024, signaling improved form despite ongoing caution.[60] However, a back flare-up prompted his withdrawal from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on April 30, 2024, highlighting persistent challenges in maintaining consistency.[61][62] These partial returns reflected a deliberate approach prioritizing long-term health over volume, though symptoms indicated incomplete resolution of underlying issues.[59]2025: Second back surgery, withdrawal from events, and recovery update
In May 2025, Zalatoris underwent a second surgery on his back to repair two re-herniated discs, marking another setback following his initial procedure in April 2023 to address a herniated disc pressing on a spinal nerve.[63] [64] The issue stemmed from progressive discomfort and instability that began in the spring of 2025, as detailed in his personal update on May 26.[65] These back problems led to multiple withdrawals from PGA Tour events early in the year. Zalatoris pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open on January 22, shortly before the first round, with no specific reason disclosed at the time but later linked to ongoing back pain.[66] He also withdrew from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on April 30 and the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 20, further limiting his participation amid the escalating injury.[67] [68] By October 2025, Zalatoris reported significant progress in recovery, stating that the "nightmare" of chronic back pain had ended and he was pain-free while playing 18 holes daily and grinding in practice.[64] [69] He expressed optimism for a full return, planning to resume competitive play at the December 2025 Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour before targeting a stronger 2026 PGA Tour season.[70] [71] Since his back issues intensified in 2022, Zalatoris has competed in only 41 professional events, underscoring the injury's toll on his career trajectory.[72]Playing style and strengths
Technical analysis of swing and strategy
Will Zalatoris' golf swing features a pivot-driven action with efficient pelvic rotation, enabling high clubhead speed relative to his wiry frame and moderate driving distance.[73] At address, he balances weight over the middle of both feet with arms hanging under shoulders, promoting stability and a repeatable motion.[74] His takeaway sees the club and arms moving faster than the body, with the club positioned outside the hands to avoid excessive inside roll and foster a smooth sequence.[74] At the top of the backswing, Zalatoris employs a high arm position with the lead wrist in slight extension and a neutral clubface, leveraging his long arms for torque akin to Davis Love III.[74] In the downswing, a lower-body shift induces side bend to shallow the club path, delivering power through efficient sequencing, though this contributed to back strain from disc compression at L4-L5.[74][75] At impact, his left side extends with the leg posting up and upper body tilting away, maximizing vertical force particularly with the driver.[74] The finish involves pronounced side bend and cleared hips with the belt buckle facing the target, underscoring flexibility and rotation for distance.[74] Following back injuries, Zalatoris rebuilt his swing in 2024 under coach Jeff Smith, loosening posture and reducing side bend by emphasizing "butt back and turn around the corner" to alleviate lumbar pressure and simplify mechanics with larger muscle groups.[75] This adjustment shifted arm path more horizontally around the body, minimizing aggressive upper-body lag and high-arm compensation that exacerbated pain, resulting in a more rotary motion.[75] Zalatoris noted, "I'm doing things in my golf swing now where I think the key word is simple... Now I feel it's more bigger muscles."[75] Zalatoris' strategic approach prioritizes data-driven course management via the DECADE system, developed by Scott Fawcett, which integrates shot dispersion patterns with PGA Tour scoring statistics to select optimal targets over aggressive pin-hunting.[76] As an early adopter, he focuses on statistically sound decisions that enhance consistency, such as avoiding low-percentage hero shots and emphasizing safe zones for approach angles that maximize birdie opportunities while minimizing bogeys.[76][77] This method, which Zalatoris credits for early successes like his 2021 Masters performance, contrasts traditional instincts by freeing players through evidence-based positioning rather than feel-based risks.[76]Statistical performance metrics
Zalatoris exhibits elite ball-striking capabilities, particularly in approach play, which has underpinned his major contention despite putting deficiencies and injury interruptions. His strokes gained: approach the green averaged +0.333 per round in the 2025 season across limited starts, highlighting sustained precision with irons even amid back issues.[78] In contrast, strokes gained: putting lagged at -0.394, aligning with historical weaknesses, including a -0.181 mark (132nd on tour) in the prior full season.[78][79]| Strokes Gained Category | 2025 Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total | -0.046 | Impacted by partial schedule and recovery |
| Off-the-Tee | +0.158 | Supported by accuracy emphasis; historical peak 70.1% fairways hit (16th) in 2024 season[80] |
| Approach | +0.333 | Core strength, enabling top-10 finishes in majors pre-injury |
| Around-the-Green | -0.006 | Neutral, with variability in short game |
| Putting | -0.394 | Consistent underperformance relative to ball-striking |
Equipment and endorsements
Zalatoris equips a predominantly Titleist setup in his golf bag, reflecting his long-term endorsement with the brand as a Titleist Golf Ambassador.[84] His driver is a Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) with a Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X shaft, paired with a Titleist TSi2 3-wood (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting).[85] For irons, he uses Titleist T150 models from 4-iron through pitching wedge, fitted with Project X Rifle 7.0 shafts.[86] His wedges consist of Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46°, 52°, 56°, and 60 degrees), while the putter is an L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 Max, marking the primary non-Titleist club in his bag.[86] [87] He plays the Titleist Pro V1x golf ball (2025 model) and uses Golf Pride Z-Grips on his clubs, with FootJoy providing apparel, gloves, and shoes.[88] [89]| Club Type | Model/Specs |
|---|---|
| Driver | Titleist GT2 (9°, Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X shaft)[85] |
| Fairway Wood | Titleist TSi2 (15°)[85] |
| Irons | Titleist T150 (4-PW, Project X Rifle 7.0 shafts)[86] |
| Wedges | Titleist Vokey SM10 (46°-60°)[86] |
| Putter | L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 Max[86] |
| Ball | Titleist Pro V1x (2025)[88] |
Achievements and records
Professional wins
Zalatoris secured his first professional victory at the 2020 TPC Colorado Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, held at TPC Colorado in Berthoud, Colorado, from July 2–5.[96] He carded rounds of 67-67-70-69 for a total of 15-under-par 273, winning by one stroke over Chase Johnson after a final-round 3-under 69.[96] [97] His lone PGA Tour win came at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, played August 11–14 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.[49] Zalatoris defeated Sepp Straka in a three-hole playoff, saving bogey with a 7-foot putt on the final playoff hole after neither player made birdie during the aggregate playoff.[49] [98] This triumph marked his only PGA Tour title as of October 2025, with no additional professional wins recorded.[1][99]Major championship results
Zalatoris made his major championship debut with a tied for sixth-place finish at the 2020 U.S. Open held at Winged Foot Golf Club.[100] Between 2020 and 2022, he recorded six top-10 finishes across major championships, including three runner-up results that highlighted his early contention in professional golf's premier events.[64] His first runner-up came at the 2021 Masters Tournament, where he finished one stroke behind winner Hideki Matsuyama after posting rounds of 70-68-71-70 for a total of 9-under par.[7] At the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club, Zalatoris tied Justin Thomas at 5-under par and lost in a three-hole aggregate playoff when Thomas birdied the par-3 17th.[45] Later that year, he secured another second-place finish at the U.S. Open at The Country Club, tying for the lead entering the final round but finishing one stroke behind Matthew Fitzpatrick after a 3-under 67 in the third round amid challenging conditions.[101] Injuries limited his major appearances from 2023 onward. He returned in 2024 with a tied for ninth at the Masters Tournament, scoring even par across four rounds.[102] That year, he tied for 43rd at the PGA Championship with a 6-under total, tied for 96th at the U.S. Open after opening with +8 through two rounds to make the cut, and missed the cut at The Open Championship.[103] In 2025, persistent back issues contributed to missed cuts at the Masters Tournament (74-78, +8) and PGA Championship (72-76, +6), preceding a second surgery.[104][104] He also missed the cut at the U.S. Open with +8 after two rounds.[105]| Year | The Masters | PGA Championship | U.S. Open | The Open Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | DNP | DNP | T6 | DNP |
| 2021 | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2022 | DNP | 2 | 2 | DNP |
| 2023 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2024 | T9 | T43 | T96 | CUT |
| 2025 | CUT | CUT | CUT | DNP |
World rankings progression
Will Zalatoris entered the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) following victories on the Korn Ferry Tour and a tied-sixth finish at the 2020 U.S. Open, which propelled him into the top 50.[106] Prior to his runner-up performance at the 2021 Masters Tournament, he held the 46th position.[107] Subsequent strong results, including multiple top-10 finishes in majors and PGA Tour events during 2021 and 2022, accelerated his ascent to a career-high of 7th on October 10, 2022.[108] This peak reflected consistent elite-level play, with eight top-10 finishes in his first full PGA Tour season.[1] A back injury requiring microdiscectomy surgery in April 2023 forced Zalatoris to withdraw from the remainder of that season, leading to a significant decline in his ranking due to limited accumulation of ranking points.[109] By the end of 2023, he had fallen to approximately 38th, with 2.1744 total points.[110] Zalatoris returned in January 2024, posting a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and a tied-ninth at the Masters, which provided temporary stabilization but could not fully offset ongoing injury limitations and missed cuts in other events.[111] A second back surgery in May 2025 for re-herniated discs sidelined him indefinitely, exacerbating the drop as he accumulated fewer points from withdrawals and absences.[112] As of October 19, 2025, his ranking stood at 160th, with an average of 0.9160 points over his career.[113][111]| Milestone Date/Event | OWGR Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2021 Masters | 46th | Entry into top 50 via prior results.[107] |
| October 10, 2022 | 7th | Career peak after sustained top finishes.[108] |
| End of 2023 | ~38th | Post-2023 surgery absence.[110] |
| October 19, 2025 | 160th | After 2025 surgery and limited play.[113] |
