A pair of young Texans trying to regain prominence on the world stage are hoping to regain their form at this weekend’s Wyndham Championship and make a charge heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Will Zalatoris (pictured above) describes his physical health as 100%, yet he’s still struggling to regain form from serious back issues dating back to 2022.
Seemingly on the verge of PGA Tour stardom, Zalatoris was sidelined before the 2023 Masters, undergoing a microdiscectomy for herniated disks in his back. Since then, he hasn’t had the same level of success.
Five weekends ago, Zalatoris withdrew in the third round at a tournament in Detroit, citing hip pain. He returned for the Scottish and British Opens, failing to make the cut in either. He had two weeks off before coming to Sedgefield Country Club for this weekend’s Wyndham Championship.
“I think being able to have the extended time off to make sure that I’m healed and then really learning how my body changes over a two-, three-, four-week span, it’s just been a lot of learning this year,” Zalatoris told reporters Tuesday.
Jordan Spieth claims he feels no pain while on the golf course, but since May 2023 he has experienced chronic, off-the-course tendon troubles in his left wrist. He believes his wrist troubles must have something to do with his mediocre 2024 record.
“It’s been a frustrating year because it’s been maybe my best driving year ever, and then the clubs that I make the most impact into the ground with, which normally are my bread and butter, have been pretty off. It’s not (physically) hurting, but subconsciously it’s hard not to look at the (tournament results) and think this isn’t a coincidence.
“I’ve been taking trips out as well as being in contact with a lot of doctors, getting it scanned again and trying to figure out what the next move is. Probably going to have to do something about it this offseason.”
Zalatoris, the 27-year-old former Wake Forest star who thrust his way into the pro golf spotlight with three runner-up finishes in major championships in 2021 and 2022, and the 31-year-old Spieth, who had three major titles before his 24th birthday, are arguably the two most compelling personalities competing in this weekend’s Wyndham.
Play in the tournament is slated to begin Thursday, though heavy rains from Hurricane Debby forecasted for this week could play havoc with the schedule.
Why are Zalatoris and Spieth here during a week many of the PGA Tour’s top players are taking off to prepare for the first stage of the FedEx Cup Playoffs next weekend in Memphis? They need to be to protect their spots in not only the first round, but to improve their chances of advancing throughout the three tournaments, which offers a prize pool of $100 million, including $25 million to the winner.
Zalatoris ranks No. 45 in the FedEx standings while Spieth is No. 62. The top 70 after the Wyndham Championship advance to Memphis. The field is cut to the top 50 for the second round in Colorado. The finals, where the $25 million first-prize will be decided, is for only the top 30 remaining on the list.
So, Zalatoris and Spieth have work to do — either at Sedgefield or in Memphis — to reach Colorado.
Granted, Zalatoris also has a lot of friends in the area. In fact, he told reporters Tuesday that he played golf with Wake Forest friends on Saturday at Old Town Club. And Spieth has played here three other times, including during the eerie 2020 tournament played before only a few members due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To take some stress off his back, Zalatoris has made swing changes, and those changes have caused some adjustments.
“I played a lot of golf this year,” Zalatoris said. “You know, I think it’s been a huge learning year where it’s a little bit of trial and error, some things have gone well, some things haven’t gone according to plan.
But I feel awesome, I feel 100 percent. I think beforehand I didn’t really know what 100% was, and now my speed with my longer clubs are back to what they were back in 2022, which is huge for me.
I think the changes that I made early on this season were really effective, but my alignment really got off with kind of the new posture. Now, I’m not focusing on anything body motion now, or mechanics, it’s just get back to the fundamentals. I’m getting back to really playing the game. I spent maybe a little bit too much time focusing on the mechanics throughout the season and trying to get to certain positions in my swing to try to fix it, but when you’re not aligned in the right spot, it’s not going to work.”
Early in the year, Zalatoris seemed on the road to full recovery. He tied for second at Riviera, tied for fourth at Bay Hill and followed with a tie for ninth at Augusta National. It’s been a struggle ever since. The Wyndham Championship is his 18th tournament. Zalatoris tied for 43rd in the PGA Championship and played well at the Memorial before blowing up with 79 in the final round.
Meanwhile, Spieth continues to practice hard and wait for answers after the season. Though he had three top 10 finishes early in the season, he has no high finishes in the last dozen of his 20 PGA Tour starts.
“I’m not in any pain playing, that’s what’s confusing,” Spieth said. “If I was, I wouldn’t have played any more. It’s all off the golf course weird little things where my tendon will kind of pop out, sublux or dislocate out of the groove and then I’ve got to get it back in or else I wouldn’t be able to grip a club,” Spieth said.
Zalatoris and Spieth said they enjoy playing Sedgefield’s traditional Donald Ross layout with its pristine greens and emphasis on shot-making.
“I think this is one of the better tracks that we get the opportunity to play all year,” Spieth said. “I love the golf course, I think it’s spectacular. You can’t hide your game. And I like the Bermuda. You’ve got to think you’re way around it, you can’t really miss above the hole out here. And then when you’re on the greens, it requires a lot of precision and touch.”
“These are some of the best greens we have on Tour, so just give yourself as many looks as you can and get hot with the putter and make a run,” Zalatoris said. “This place, condition-wise, is top notch. The greens, they’re perfect.”
Meanwhile, Spieth continues to practice hard and wait for answers after the season. Though he had three top 10 finishes early in the season, he has no high finishes in the last dozen of his 20 PGA Tour starts.
Thursday’s prime pairings include Zalatoris, Spieth and English star Justin Rose at 7:23 a.m. on the 10th tee, followed at 7:34 by Shane Lowry, Akshay Bhatia and Sungjae Im. The premier groups are scheduled to begin at 12:43 p.m. and 12:54, respectively, on No. 1 in Friday’s second round.
