Will the Thrill: From TPC Colorado to Augusta National

Will Zalatoris has parlayed an initial pro victory in Colorado to a second-place finish at the Masters.

By Anthony Cotton

On Sunday evening, down in the southeastern part of the United States, Stephan Jaeger won the Emerald Coast Classic in Florida, moving into second place on the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-long points list. Jaeger now trails the leader on the PGA TOUR’s minor-league feeder circuit by a minuscule four points.

Chances are the man in first place, Will Zalatoris, isn’t too concerned.

As it turned out, Zalatoris, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-2, 165-pound whippet from California with wisps of cotton candy floating out from under his cap, was a little busy himself down South, putting the finishing touches on an incredible week. Bidding to become just the second player to win the tournament in his initial appearance at Augusta National (Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979), Zalatoris’ final-round 72 cemented a second-place finish in the 2021 Masters, just one shot behind the winner, Hideki Matsuyama. This from a man who as recently as 2019 had missed the cut in almost a third of his Korn Ferry events—now, along with a tie for sixth at the 2020 U.S. Open, he has top-10 finishes in the last two major championships he’s played in.

Little wonder that, speaking with reporters Sunday night, Zalatoris acknowledged that Jaeger may indeed end up winning the Korn Ferry’s point race because, chances are, he won’t be returning to the minor leagues.

“I’ve wanted to be in this position my entire life,” Zalatoris said. “I don’t need to shy away from it now. I’ve made it this far. Why now be timid?

“I can play with the best players in the world.”

It’s not like Zalatoris is some mythical “Tin Cup”-like player, emerging out of nowhere (although at least one person thought there was a resemblance to a character from a popular golf movie)—he was a member of the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup team that topped Great Britain in the biennial matches, part of a squad that included current PGA TOUR  pros Collin Morikawa, Cameron Champ and Scottie Scheffler (each of whom finished in the top-30 last weekend).

Have fun today young man. Mr. Gilmore is watching you and very proud. pic.twitter.com/iwOEuMdR8W

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) April 11, 2021

But while Morikawa was winning events and a major championship on tour, and Champ was making a name for himself with his prodigious power, less than two years ago, Zalatoris was finishing in 61st place and making $1,408 at the Dormie Network Classic. Things started to turn in 2020 however, with Colorado actually playing a major part in his transition from potential journeyman player to apparent future star. Playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, at the start of that year, it was clear that Zalatoris’ game was on the upswing—beginning with a tie for fourth in his first event, Zalatoris registered five top-10s in eight events, the last when a lipped-out putt on the 72nd hole cost him a spot in a playoff.

At the time, Zalatoris insisted he wasn’t frustrated.

“It’s kind of motivating because I’ve said it a bunch, and I’m not trying to be arrogant, but I know I’m going to win one eventually,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep putting myself in position,”

That happened the very next stop on the tour, the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes, played at the TPC Colorado in Berthoud. Zalatoris was one of seven players tied for the lead after the opening round of play—after Day 2 and a second-consecutive 5-under 67, he was alone in first. The Wake Forest graduate was one shot clear of two other players on the tournament’s final day and his final-round 69 was good enough to maintain that margin and take his first professional victory.

Chances are it won’t be his last—and tournament officials are probably besides themselves hoping Zalatoris will return to Colorado to defend his championship. This year’s event is scheduled for July 8-11; that week, the PGA TOUR stop is John Deere Classic in Illinois. Despite its modest footprint, in the past, the event was something of a must-stop for many players, not only because of how well they were treated in the farmland, but also, as the last tournament before the British Open, players could take a tour-sponsored charter flight across the pond.

At present, Zalatoris has yet to qualify for the Open, but it’s hard to imagine him not taking part in the festivities at the Royal St. George’s Golf Club, with this year’s tournament carrying greater weight after it was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. The only question now seems to be whether Zalatoris will be hopping on a charter from Illinois or DIA.

In either case, based on the quality of his play, it’s safe to say Zalatoris’ ticket has already been punched.

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