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Will Zalatoris is an American professional golfer born in San Francisco, California, on 16 August 1996. He was introduced to the game by his parents at the California Golf Club and moved to Dallas, Texas, at the age of nine, where he began competing in top junior tournaments. Zalatoris attended Wake Forest University, where he excelled in golf, winning numerous championships and accolades. He turned professional in 2018 and has since risen through the ranks, achieving notable victories and top finishes on the PGA Tour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Patrick Zalatoris |
| Birthdate | August 16, 1996 |
| Birthplace | San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Wake Forest University |
| Collegiate Scoring Average | 70.44 |
| Collegiate Titles | 4 |
| Collegiate Wins | 11 |
| Turned Professional | 2018 |
| Professional Wins | 2 |
| Notable Achievements | 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship winner, 3-time runner-up in major championships, qualified for 2021 Masters Tournament |
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Will Zalatoris is from the United States
Will Zalatoris is an American professional golfer. He was born in San Francisco, California, on 16 August 1996, to parents Richard and Catherine Zalatoris. Both his parents worked in real estate and were recreational golfers. In fact, his mother continued to play golf while pregnant with him until three weeks before he was born.
Zalatoris received his first plastic golf club when he was just 18 months old and learned to play at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City, California. His parents were members of the California Golf Club, where Zalatoris played alongside them. When he was nine years old, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where he began competing in top junior tournaments.
Zalatoris attended Wake Forest University, where he excelled in golf and academics. He was named the ACC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American in 2017. He also set a new individual scoring average record at the university of 70.44. In December 2017, Zalatoris decided to turn professional and forego his final semester of university.
As a professional golfer, Zalatoris has achieved notable success, including winning the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, his first PGA Tour victory. He has also represented the United States in international competitions such as the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup and the 2017 Walker Cup.
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He was born in San Francisco, California
Will Zalatoris is an American professional golfer. He was born in San Francisco, California, on 16 August 1996, to parents Richard and Catherine Zalatoris. Both his parents worked in real estate and were recreational golfers. His mother was a track and field athlete at the University of Oregon, specialising in middle-distance running.
Zalatoris was born and raised in California, but the family moved to Dallas, Texas, when he was nine years old. He began playing golf at a young age, receiving his first plastic club when he was 18 months old. He learned to play at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City, California, and his parents were members of the California Golf Club.
Zalatoris attended Wake Forest University, where he excelled in golf and academics. He was named to the Boys Golf All-State Academic Team and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society. He had a successful amateur career, winning the Texas State Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2014, and representing the United States at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup and the 2017 Walker Cup.
Zalatoris turned professional in 2018 and secured his first victory in July 2020 at the TPC Colorado Championship. He has since competed primarily on the PGA Tour, winning once at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship and achieving several top finishes in major championships.
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He moved to Texas at age 9
Will Zalatoris, the professional golfer, was born in San Francisco, California, in the United States. However, at the age of nine, he made a significant move to Texas, which would shape his future in the world of golf. This relocation was a pivotal moment in his life and career.
Texas is renowned for its thriving golf scene, and it offered young Will a wealth of opportunities to develop his talent. The state boasts a favorable year-round climate for golf, with mild winters and abundant sunshine, providing ideal conditions for practice and play. Moving to Texas gave Zalatoris access to top-notch golf courses, renowned coaches, and a competitive golfing community, all of which contributed to his development as a player.
The decision to move was a strategic one for Zalatoris and his family. Texas is known for its strong high school golf programs, which offer a pathway to college golf and, ultimately, professional tours. By enrolling in these programs, Zalatoris was able to refine his skills and gain exposure to competitive golf at a very early age. The move also placed him in close proximity to some of the nation's top amateur events, allowing him to test his abilities against other aspiring young golfers.
Living in Texas allowed Zalatoris to immerse himself fully in the golf culture. He could participate in various tournaments, both local and regional, and benefit from specialized coaching that accelerated his progress. The state's rich golf heritage, coupled with its supportive golfing community, provided the perfect environment for Zalatoris to hone his craft and build a solid foundation for his future success.
The move to Texas proved to be a pivotal step in Zalatoris's journey to becoming a world-class golfer. It offered him the ideal platform to showcase his talent and provided the necessary resources for his development. Through hard work, dedication, and the opportunities presented in his new home state, Zalatoris was able to rise through the ranks and establish himself as a prominent name in the golfing world. His story serves as a testament to the impact that the right environment and opportunities can have on a young athlete's career.
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Zalatoris has won several amateur and collegiate golf tournaments
Will Zalatoris is an American professional golfer born in San Francisco, California, on 16 August 1996. He was introduced to the game by his parents at the California Golf Club at a very young age. Zalatoris moved to Dallas, Texas, with his family when he was nine years old and started competing in top junior tournaments.
Zalatoris attended Wake Forest University, where he received the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. He had a successful collegiate and amateur career, winning four collegiate titles and several amateur tournaments. In September 2015, he won his second collegiate title, the Rod Myers Invitational, by one stroke. He won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur and the Pacific Coast Amateur in July 2016, and the General Hackler Championship in March 2017. Zalatoris was named ACC Player of the Year in 2017 and was also named First-Team All-American. He represented the United States at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup and the 2017 Walker Cup.
Zalatoris turned professional in 2018 and secured his first professional victory in July 2020 at the TPC Colorado Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour. He finished the regular season 60th in points, earning full status for the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season. Zalatoris' strong performances continued, and he qualified for the 2020 U.S. Open, finishing in sixth place. He recorded several top-15 finishes in 2021, including at the Farmers Insurance Open, Genesis Invitational, and Arnold Palmer Invitational, which helped him qualify for the 2021 Masters Tournament. Zalatoris finished second at the 2021 Masters, one stroke behind the winner, Hideki Matsuyama.
Zalatoris has had several notable achievements on the PGA Tour. He won his first PGA Tour event at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship and has three runner-up finishes in major championships. He was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2020-2021 season and has consistently ranked highly in the Official World Golf Ranking. However, he has also had to withdraw from several tournaments due to back injuries and herniated discs.
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He turned professional in 2018
Will Zalatoris is an American professional golfer. He was born in San Francisco, California, on 16 August 1996, to parents Richard and Catherine Zalatoris, who were both recreational golfers. Zalatoris was introduced to the game early on, playing with his parents at the California Golf Club. When he was nine years old, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where he began competing in top junior tournaments.
Zalatoris attended Wake Forest University, where he excelled in golf and received the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. He had a standout collegiate and amateur career, representing the United States in the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup and the 2017 Walker Cup, and winning numerous championships, including the 2014 Trans-Miss Championship, the 2014 US Junior Amateur Championship, and the 2014 Texas State Amateur Championship.
In December 2017, Zalatoris decided to forego his final semester of university and turn professional at the start of 2018. He made his debut on the PGA Tour, with six starts in 2018, but only managed to make one cut. He then competed in qualifying school for the Web.com Tour (later renamed the Korn Ferry Tour) but failed to advance past the first stage.
Despite these early setbacks, Zalatoris persevered and secured membership for the remainder of the 2019 season on the Korn Ferry Tour after a strong performance at the LECOM Health Challenge in July. He carried this momentum into 2020, winning his first professional victory at the TPC Colorado Championship in July and achieving 11 consecutive top-20 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour. This success propelled him into the spotlight, earning him Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour and qualifying him for the 2020 U.S. Open, where he finished in a tie for sixth place.
Since then, Zalatoris has continued to climb the ranks, consistently placing in the top 15 at various championships and breaking into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking in 2021. He recorded runner-up finishes in major championships, such as the 2022 PGA Championship and the 2022 U.S. Open, before claiming his first PGA Tour victory at the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States.
San Francisco, California.
2018.
Four.
