Will Zalatoris now not desires to be a doppelganger of Joyful Gilmore’s caddie.
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The 28-year-old American has jokingly been referred to as a lookalike of the fictional film character’s adolescent golf bag provider due to his honest pores and skin, curly blonde hair and slim physique since he burst onto the scene on the 2020 US Open with a tied sixth end that included a hole-in-one throughout the first spherical.
However Zalatoris stepped as much as the tee to kick off the PGA Tour season within the first spherical of The Sentry in Hawaii trying like a brand new man.
LEADERBOARD: Comply with the stay scores
Through the low season, Zalatoris has stacked on 15 kilos of muscle and the time within the weights room instantly paid off as he matched his finest ever spherical on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui.
The Texan fired eight birdies and stayed bogey free to take a seat in a share of second alongside Hideki Matsuyama with an eight-under par spherical of 65, one shot again of chief Tom Hoge within the first Signature Occasion of 2025.
Whether or not it was with a wedge or an iron in hand, Zalatoris used the various undulations across the greens to perfection to offer himself glorious seems at birdies.
He admitted post-round, that he “spent quite a lot of time” engaged on holing extra 10 to twenty foot putts in latest months, however it’s the bodily progress he has made since having again surgical procedure in April 2023 that’s having the best impression.
Final 12 months, Zalatoris returned together with his remodelled swing and confirmed indicators of being again to his finest with a tied ninth end at The Masters – which was remarkably his worst outcome at Augusta Nationwide after coming runner-up and tied sixth in 2021 and 2022 respectively – however he fell away because the 12 months progressed.
Now, he feels in a much more comfy place together with his recreation.
“I believe the muscle that I’ve placed on as helped rather a lot,” Zalatoris stated post-round.
“You realize, the actual fact, that I’m capable of hold the ball velocity as much as the place I wish to be but in addition not do it to the place it’s detrimental to my long run well being. The whole lot’s feeling actually good.
“I spent quite a lot of time final 12 months making an attempt to determine some issues and facets of my swing. Perhaps we tried somethings and possibly it didn’t work, however clearly I used to be making an attempt to get higher and that’s the method.
“The largest factor right here is simplicity. Final 12 months, I spent quite a lot of time making an attempt to determine issues. Even Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, which I by no means do.
“It was simply sort of good to indicate as much as a match and know that I’m in a great spot.”
ROUND 1 LEADERBOARD
1. Hoge -9
T2. Matsuyama, Zalatoris -8
T4. Morikawa, Younger, Conners -7
T7. Hadwin, Detry, Finau -6
Fatherhood is agreeing with chief Hoge, because the American carded ten birdies in his opening nine-under spherical of 64.
The 35-year-old grinded away final 12 months enjoying 29 occasions as he made it by way of every section of the FedEx Cup Playoffs after which performed 4 occasions within the Fall Collection, however the arrival of his first youngster final month led to some much-needed time at residence, and Hoge returned to golf rejuvenated.
“I performed right through Mexico, first week of November. Then was simply at residence, and we had our first youngster in early December, so sort of pressured break day,” he stated.
“I really feel like with the modifications within the schedule, final 12 months was quite a lot of golf from now till the Tour Championship, it was cramped in there fairly tight, so I felt like I used to be fairly burned out at that time, wanted a bit of little bit of time away.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is absent this week after he sliced open his hand whereas making ready Christmas dinner and he wanted surgical procedure.
So too is Rory McIlroy, however not due to any accidents, the Northern Irishman has by no means performed in Hawaii as he waits to start out his season till later within the new 12 months.
Two-time main winner in 2024 Xander Schauffele is the headline act consequently however is off the tempo with a one-under par opening spherical.
One of the sensational efforts was from European Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland, who broke his toe on the nook of his lodge mattress body within the lead-up to the match, however is pushing by way of the ache and shot three-under within the opening.
Adam Scott is the most effective of the Australians at five-under, whereas Jason Day is three-under and Cam Davis is additional again at even par.
Australia has a wealthy historical past within the match with Cameron Smith successful in 2022 earlier than crossing to LIV, whereas Geoff Ogilvy received back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, Stuart Appleby pulled off a hat-trick in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and Steve Elkington additionally received twice in 1992 and 1995.