Remember how it felt like Scottie SchefflerWould you ever win on the PGA Tour?
Scheffler was a top-ranked player in the world in both of his first two seasons, finishing in the top 25 and top 25, with 29 of these finishes in his 52 first starts. Scheffler failed to win his first victory despite all of his efforts.
Scheffler finally won the WM Phoenix Open in February on the PGA Tour. In his next five starts, Scheffler won his second major championship at the Masters. He won three times more. Scheffler is currently ranked No. Scheffler is ranked No.1 in the world and is the favourite to win the PGA Tour Player Of The Year award from his peers.
Golf fans are left to wonder if Will Zalatoris’ first victory Sunday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee, had a similar effect. He outlasted Sepp StrakaTo move to No. 1, in a three hole playoff Heading into the second leg at the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings is
Zalatoris, a long-time friend of Scheffler had been painfully close so often in his first two tours, including three runner up finishes at majors. Zalatoris finished second to the Korn Ferry Tour in July, just seven months after his promotion. Hideki Matsuyamaat the Masters 2021.
Zalatoris was defeated by the Russians in late January Luke ListIn a playoff at Torrey Pines Farmers Insurance Open. He then fell to Justin ThomasA three-hole aggregate playoff was played at the PGA Championship in Southern Hills. Zalatoris finished second in the U.S. Open, one shot behind the winner. Matt FitzpatrickAfter his 14-footer on 72nd hole fell out, he took a step back.
Zalatoris had already earned $6.7million in 22 starts, the highest amount for a player without a win in PGA Tour history. He was ranked 14th on the Official World Golf Ranking. He had never won a PGA Tour match.
Zalatoris said this week that he found it frustrating, motivating, and all the other things, to ESPN. Ive been close all of the year, and I think that Ive learned a lot over the past month about my game. I think its something Im quite excited about going forward.
Zalatoris shot a 1-over-71 round at TPC Southwind after three of his shots were blocked in water-soaked bunkers on a four-hole stretch. He was already nine strokes ahead of his co-leaders J.J. SpaunAnd Si Woo KimAfter 18 holes. It looked like another week without a win. Things looked so bleak that his fiancée, Caitlin Sellers, asked him what their weekend plans were going to be if he missed the cut.
After scoring a 7-under score of 63 in round two, Zalatoris stated that We just have to keep doing what our doing. You cant play so well that often and not win, Zalatoris said.
Zalatoris got some good bounces, literally, on Sunday to win the elusive victory
0:36
Will Zalatoris shot appears to be headed for the water but, after several bounces on rocks, the ball escapes the water.
Zalatoris thought that his tee shot was dead on the third playoff hole, the par-3 11. The ball somehow stayed dry after it bounced at least seven more times on the stone wall surrounding TPC Sawgrass 11th green. Zalatoriss ball rested between the stone wall, deep rough, and the stone wall. Although his ball was dry, he was still in serious trouble.
Straka had to hit his tee shot to center of the green. That was all he needed to win. Zalatoris tee shot almost mirrored Strakas. Strakas ball ended in the water. Strakas third shot hit a greenside bunker, and he chipped to approximately 4 feet for a putt that would give him double-bogey.
Joel Stock, Zalatoris caddie, had much to say about the matter and Zalatoris decided to go back to the drop zone. He hit a perfect wedge shot onto green. He won the tournament with his second bogey on the nine back.
Zalatoris stated, I knew that I wouldnt play the shot, but at least I was going to have a look at it. Joel said to me three times, Hey, Sepp has 4 feet for! [a bogey], go back, go back. I wanted to make certain that I didnt give up an easy opportunity where I could just kinda pop one up on a green and get an easy 2-putt. But it was just impossible. I couldn’t get the club lower than half the equator, which is the lower half.
It is not surprising that Zalatoris fortunes changed after Stock began reading his putts in Fridays second round. Stock won his first tournament with Zalatoris bag. Ryan Goble was his caddie during the Wyndham Champion. It was a good start.
Congrats Will! Im so happy for you! Happy is for you! Enjoy it all pic.twitter.com/mlfRY2oYmr
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) August 15, 2022
Zalatoris is widely considered one of the top ball-strikers worldwide, but his putting stroke was often as smooth as a Mississippi backroad. He was ranked 120th in shots gained (minus-.037), and his putting stroke was terrible from 4 to 8 feet. His putting stroke was so bad in the previous season that he had to be ejected. Collin MorikawaHe prayed to Zalatoris.
Morikawa stated, Im going to not beat around the bush, at the U.S. Open. Ive been saying it since college, anything beyond that 8-to-10 foot zone, I mean. Its as smooth and effortless as any other stroke. Weve seen some very squirrely putts. While I dont claim to be the best putter, I have seen some squirreliness. However, I think we all get on our toes when it happens.
Zalatoris stated that he has tried to be more efficient on the green and less methodical than he was in the past.
He said, Ive tried a little faster. Whenever Ive struggled, its been slow. I am a quick walker, I have a fast mind, and I do everything quickly. But being able look at the target, roll it to there, and accept what happens, is a huge advantage.
Zalatoris short-game guru Josh Gregory helped him to improve his grip and stance. He shot a 10-footer at the 72nd hole. He hit a 14-footer at No. 18 on the second playoff hole, and a 7-footer at No. 11 for his first victory.
Zalatoris believes that he is one of the top putters in the world. It was evident on Sunday.
Zalatoris stated that if you place yourself in contention, you will learn something about your own self, The Masters first [to Hideki Matsuyama in 2021]It was life-changing because it allowed me to play out here as often as I wanted and put me on the map. The second at PGA was a confirmation of the fact that it was not a fluke week. The third at U.S. Open gave us that much more confidence that I can win a major and that I can win here. It was only a matter time and this was my week.
Whats next?
According to ESPN Stats & Information, nine of the previous 15 winners of the FedEx Cup were inside the top five in the points standings after the first playoff event, including each of the past three winners since the current format was introduced in 2019.
This means Zalatoris, Scheffler Cameron Smith, Sam BurnsAnd Tony FinauYou might have the best chance with only two events remaining as the FedEx Cup Playoffs move from Philadelphia, Delaware, this week. It will be the first PGA Tour tournament to be held in Delaware.
It will also mark the debut of a professional event at Wilmington Country Club. The club is situated on 100 acres once belonging to the du Pont family. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed it in 1959. Andrew GreenIt was rebuilt in 2020 after a tornado destroyed 300 trees and destroyed all bunkers.
Justin Thomas, Patrick RodgersAnd Daniel BergerParticipated in the 2013 Palmer Cup at Wilmington Country Clubs South Course.
Who is in the BMW Championship field this year?
Lucas GloverThe FedEx Cup standings were led by 121st to 34th place with a tie for third at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Adam ScottMoved up 32 spots, from 77th place to 45th. Andrew Putnamclimbed from 87th position to 47th. Wyndham ClarkThe last player in the 70-man field of the BMW Championship was a player named Mike, who rose nine spots.
Scott, who tied for fifth at Memphis 11 under, said that Honestly, I felt my game was in a good enough place that I wasn’t looking for anything. It was about setting my mind to do something and getting the job done. Sometimes, the most difficult thing in my career at this point is switching my mind on week after week. Its easy to drift on autopilot and not get very far. This week, I had to be more focused.
Anirban Lahiri, Lee Hodges, John Huh, Brendon ToddAnd Gary WoodlandThe last players to leave were
Cam Smiths bad break
Smith was not pleased that a FedEx St. Jude Championship official watched a replay of Saturdays third round.
This official noticeSmith may have hit a ball that was on the red penalty-area line just near the green of the par-3 fourth hole. Smiths tee shot missed the green but bounced into an adjacent pond. He took a drop but at least some of his ball settled in the red line.
The rules official who viewed the rebroadcast raised his concerns to Gary Young, chief refee. Smith agreed to take up the matter. Young found the Australian player in his clubhouse at 11:20 a.m. ET on Sunday
0:37
The PGA Tour has taken two shots against Cameron Smith after he played from an incongruous spot on Saturdays fourth hole.
I thought it was just going to be a situation in which I asked Cam the question, and he was going tell me. [me]Young stated that Young was satisfied that his ball was outside of the penalty area. When I asked him that question, he answered, No, the ball was definitely touching it. Theres no turning around at that point.
Young stated that Smith didn’t understand that his ball had been placed outside the penalty area. Smith was given a 2-stroke penalty, which dropped him to 4 shots behind the leader J.J. SpaunTo begin his final round.
Smith birdied his first hole, but shot even 70. At 9 under, he tied for 13th. Smith, who is reportedly LIV Golf is your destinationIn the near future, he declined to speak with reporters following his round. He would have moved to No. He would have moved to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking if he won in Memphis.
The worst (and the best) weekend
Rickie FowlerThe FedEx St. Jude Championships final player was the last of the 125-man field. To advance to the BMW Championship, the struggling player must finish in a tie for eleventh.
Fowler looked good after his 65-degree opening round. Fowler shot 1-over 71 in his second round, but was only 3 under in the third round as he headed into the 18th hole. The bottom fell out.
Fowler hit his drive, then he took his third shot into water. Fowler missed his fifth shot and was just short of the green. To record a quintuple bogey 9, he needed two more chip shots, two putts, and two more putts. It was his worst score on a single hole during his PGA Tour career. He ended up with a 2-over 72.
Fowler shot a 3-over-73 on Sunday and tied for 64th at 1:20 for the tournament.
Fowler did at least have a sense of humor in the midst of the mess, and even responded to Thomas playful dig on him via social media.
The next 25
The 25 Korn Ferry Tour players that earned PGA Tour cards Sunday for the 2022-23 season include some of the most talented college players and a few journeymen with amazing stories.
Carl YuanChina represented China at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Robby SheltonAs a rookie, he made it to the 2020 BMW Championship, but then he messed up his swing and lost his card. Paul Haley IIHis tenth PGA Tour card was earned a decade ago. He is a former little league baseball teammate with Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw.
Ben GriffinJust last year, I quit professional golf to become a mortgage loan officer. Erik BarnesDuring the COVID-19 shutdown, shelves were stocked in grocery stores on the overnight shift.
The best reaction to obtaining a PGA Tour Card might have been from Kevin RoyTo finish 24th on the list, he carded a 3-under-68 in Sundays final round at the Pinnacle Bank Championship Elkhorn, Nebraska.
Let the tears come bud, you are worthy it.
Kevin Roy is #TOURBound. pic.twitter.com/HwK5nT0GZQ
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 14, 2022
Tyson Alexander34-year old Connor also earned his first PGA Tour Card, prompting one his friends to settle their long-standing high school bet.
Tyson Alexanders friend and lifelong friend was delighted to win this bet.
He got a Tyson @PGATOUR tattoo. pic.twitter.com/iTgkDIQCUW
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 15, 2022
He said it
LIV Golf and PGA Tour dont seem to be willing to coexist anytime soon. One former member of the PGA Tour who has gone to the breakaway circuit is now ready to see them compete.
Im ready for LIV golfers, to go ahead and compete against guys on PGA Tour, Patrick Reed I told reporters this ahead of the International Series Singapore event, which was part of the Asian Tour, according to Strait Times. Im pretty confident we can hold ourselves.
To be truthful with you, I have played on every tour — this event will be my second Asian Tour one because the last Saudi event was an Asian Tour. But I have played on DP World and PGA Tour. I also played in one Korn Ferry Tour event and two LIV events. I can tell you this: The guys out there, it doesnt really matter how much money they have — I think the players were sick and tired of hearing that.
At the end, when you go out there, its more than just for you, that youre playing for a team, and that we all want to win trophies. These top players, all these great golfers, are coming to the USA because they believe in the product.
Reed finished in a tie at 31st place at 8 under in Asian Tour event.