Will Zalatoris Runner-Up Finish at Genesis Fueled By Heavy Heart

Genesis Invitational winner Hideki Matsuyama won on the PGA Tour for the first time in over two years on Sunday, but the true comeback player of the tournament was Will Zalatoris.

The 27-year-old who quickly earned a reputation for performing well at majors scored a runner-up finish on Sunday in his fourth official tournament since missing over a year of competition due to a back injury that required surgery.

Making matters more difficult for Zalatoris, he shared after Sunday’s final round that he lost a close family member unexpectedly this past week. 

Bigger than golf.
@WillZalatoris was playing with a heavy heart after losing a family member earlier in the week.

“She was with me all week.” pic.twitter.com/9LC3rpyQpS

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 18, 2024

Zalatoris said:

“This whole week was for her. My family can’t be here no matter what would have happened, but very proud of how I played.”

After finishing runner-up at the 2021 Masters, Zalatoris lost a playoff to Justin Thomas at the 2022 PGA Championship and was runner-up again at the U.S. Open a month later. He finally got his first win at the opening round of the 2022 FedEx Cup playoffs, but he couldn’t continue on due to a back injury.

He eventually had surgery last April and returned at the Hero World Challenge. In the 20-man field at that exhibition event, he finished last. 

But he soldiered on, finishing better and better in each of four events in 2024.

Will Zalatoris with a HOLE IN ONE on the 14th @ForePlayPod

pic.twitter.com/szKpusBAHA

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 16, 2024

Zalatoris said:

“I’m definitely ahead of the curve in terms of the speed, where my game’s at.”

Due to not playing for a year, he fell out of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking and required a sponsor’s exemption into the Genesis. But he should have enough points to qualify for the Arnold Palmer Invitational next month, and he’s already set into The Players Championship and the Masters. 

Zalatoris withdrew from next week’s Mexico Open to spend time with his grieving family, but expect him to make his presence known in Florida and then in major season.

Cover Image via Fox News