Travelers: Will Zalatoris’ “all-day grind session” pays off

CROMWELL, Conn. — Will Zalatoris appeared misplaced at Pinehurst No. 2, which explains why he missed the reduce on the U.S. Open.

But as an alternative of dwelling on his poor play, Zalatoris flew straight from North Carolina to Connecticut to get further follow forward of the Travelers Championship. The transfer has paid off thus far, as Zalatoris shot a formidable 6-under 64 on day one—his lowest spherical of the season. He now trails chief Tom Kim by two.

“I received out right here Saturday evening, after which Sunday, I had an all-day grind session to attempt to determine what was occurring,” Zalatoris defined.

“I received into some unhealthy habits, discovered what I wanted to repair, and simply dug it out of the filth. It’s form of good to have the ability to try this.”

Zalatoris missed a lot of the 2023 season after hurting his again on the driving vary at Augusta National, solely minutes earlier than the primary spherical of the Masters started. He subsequently missed eight months, returning on the Hero World Challenge in December. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon then had an up-and-down begin to the yr, however lastly put his recreation collectively on the Genesis Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tying for second and fourth, respectively.

But he solely has one top-10 since then: a tie for ninth on the Masters.

“Early on this season, I might play a match, must take three, 4 days off, and now I’m capable of simply carry on going,” Zalatoris stated.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

“So regardless that it’s good and heat, that clearly helps with the again, however I feel it’s simply looking for the proper cadence of once I’m taking time without work, and to date this stretch is the most effective I’ve felt.”

Now, Zalatoris can hit 300 to 400 balls each day, which helps when you should discover your swing. But he would have points contending and bettering if his again restricted him from doing that. Thankfully for him, these illnesses are a factor of the previous for now.

“The additional I get from the surgical procedures that I had final yr, the extra comfy I’m feeling with my again, the faster I’m recovering, the higher I’m feeling,” Zalatoris stated.

“As the yr goes on, regardless that my outcomes haven’t proven it, I felt loads higher; I simply received into some unhealthy habits and thought it was only a good reset after the U.S. Open. I really like majors; it’s all the time been a profession purpose of mine to win one. I hated how I performed, and typically you simply need to dig it out of the filth.”

Perhaps his grind classes will pave the best way for a victory this week on the Travelers Championship. Or possibly it would function a harbinger of issues to come back at Royal Troon.

Who is aware of? Regardless of what occurs, seeing Zalatoris again on tour—and having the ability to grind his method by way of unhealthy habits—is one thing everybody likes to see.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.