Getty Photographs
Will Zalatoris lastly had an offseason. And he beloved it.
The 28-year-old professional hasn’t technically had one since 2019, since he spent the 4 years prior both rehabbing his again or taking part in within the PGA Tour’s wraparound season.
Now, the previous couple of months — with out lingering again points and with out a must play within the FedEx Cup Fall — he’s had an opportunity to truly work on issues vital to him.
“It’s kinda good to have a yr the place versus rehabbing, I’m really progressing,” Zalatoris mentioned.
And far of that development has come within the health club.
Zalatoris is in South Africa this week, making his debut on the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Problem. He tied for thirteenth on the BMW Championship in August — simply lacking out on the Tour Championship — and his solely begin since was a visit to Japan for the Zozo Championship in October. That’s only one begin in three months.
“I haven’t performed a lot however that was on objective,” Zalatoris advised the DP World Tour communications group on Wednesday. “I needed to be dwelling, be capable to eat my 4,500 energy a day and 200 grams of protein and prepare and get higher.”
Zalatoris mentioned this offseason was the toughest he’s ever labored. Lengthy identified for his slight body, he’s now added 15 kilos of muscle over the past couple of months. He’s hoping it pays dividends, too.
He’s been one of many vivid younger stars on Tour since he joined within the 2020-21 season, a yr that was highlighted by his second-place end on the Masters. He now has 5 runner-up finishes to go along with his one Tour title (the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship), however he needed to take most of 2023 off after he withdrew from the Masters and elected for the identical again surgical procedure Tiger Woods had.
Zalatoris returned eventually yr’s Hero World Problem — the identical occasion happening within the Bahamas this week — and confirmed apparent rust, taking pictures rounds of 81, 68, 79 and 71 as he labored via swing and gear modifications (he additionally switched to an extended putter to assist alleviate strain on his again).
He discovered some success early in 2024, tying for 2nd on the Genesis Invitational and tying for 4th on the Arnold Palmer Invite, however he later withdrew from the Rocket Mortgage Traditional and missed his subsequent three cuts. He rebounded for the FedEx Cup Playoffs (T12 and T13) and acquired himself into each Signature Occasion for 2025. It was a promising end to a irritating yr and a half.
Final yr, he was 77th in driving distance at 302.5 yards (he ranked thirteenth two years earlier), however along with his new bulk and pace, he’s hoping that may enhance as nicely.