Zalatoris Will Finish In Third Place In The Big

Paolo UggettiESPN

1 Relevant The 25-year-old went into action on Sunday without a significant win or victory in the PGA Tour, but with a lot of confidence. He said on Saturday that his recent second place in the playoffs against Justin Thomas in this year’s PGA Championship had given him the confidence that he could be one of the best players in the world. But the conviction could not push his place a few inches closer to the hole. “With about six feet to finish, I thought I had it,” Zalatoris said of his door. “It stings, obviously. Having three runners-up so far in my adult career.” Zalatoris came on Sunday to draw with Fitzpatrick. Zalatoris struggled early, making two bogs in the first five holes before his always elusive potter caught fire. He made four of the next six holes and, at one point, held a 2-shot lead over Fitzpatrick. “I fought like crazy,” Zalatoris said, calling his ride “awful” for the week, adding that his hip was bothering him. The usual problems of the 2021 Masters runner-up arose with his athlete, but as he said with a smile on Sunday, his shot was fine. “I’m sure all the idiots on Instagram will say it has to do with the bending of my left wrist coming down,” Zalatoris told putt on 18. “I promise you, it has nothing to do with it.” Zalatoris’s two costly mistakes came at nine back. In the 12th hole, he lost the Fairway and had to drill out, which led to a 2-putt for a bobblehead. At 15, he lost the Fairway again. Fitzpatrick did the same, but lost it so right that he had a better lie than Zalatoris, who was tough. Fitzpatrick made a bird. Zalatoris curled up. The lead was then 2 in favor of Fitzpatrick. In par-3 16th, Zalatoris made a bird sit 1 back. But when Fitzpatrick saved his mistake finding the bunker with a perfect iron shot in the 18th minute, the pressure was back on Zalatoris, who later called Fitzpatrick’s approach shot “wild” and “1 in 20”. “I knew very well that Will was going to make it,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is one of the best players on tour.” Zalatoris hit it just 15 feet. Fitzpatrick put 2 par, so Zalatoris knew what he had to do. As he hit the ball and saw it dripping right next to the hole without falling, it was Zalatoris who fell to his knees in agony. The champion was decided. “I have already been asked, how nervous were you at putt on 18?” said Zalatoris. “It’s like I have nothing to lose. It either comes in or it doesn’t.” Even after a hard-fought defeat, Zalatoris showed confidence, saying he had the recipe to win. With less than a month until the next big one – The Open in St. Andrews – Zalatoris said he is happy to try again soon. “I’m not happy about finishing second,” he said. “Obviously I’m trying to do it. The level of comfort is there, especially now that I know I can do it. I just have to keep waiting my turn.”

title: “Zalatoris Will Finish In Third Place In The Big " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-12” author: “Deborah Grove”

Paolo UggettiESPN

BROOKLINE, Massachusetts – Will Zalatoris came close again, and this time, he thought he had it. After losing a fake 14-foot bird in the 18th hole that would put him in the playoffs with winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Zalatoris could not help but sigh as he was given the silver medal for second at the US Open on Sunday. He spoke to the media while the screens showed Fitzpatrick lifting the trophy and then Zalatoris left with a forced smile. He had to leave the stage to let the champion pass. “She, in particular, is in a lot of pain,” said Zalatoris, who now has six finishes in the top-10 in nine big starts, including three finishes in second place. “I’m three times far from being essentially – to have the chance to be a three – time big champion. A bounce here or there.” 2 About The 25-year-old went into action on Sunday without a significant win or victory in the PGA Tour, but with a lot of confidence. He said on Saturday that his recent second place in the playoffs against Justin Thomas in this year’s PGA Championship had given him the confidence that he could be one of the best players in the world. But the conviction could not push his place a few inches closer to the hole. “With about six feet to finish, I thought I had it,” Zalatoris said of his door. “It stings, obviously. Having three runners-up so far in my adult career.” Zalatoris came on Sunday to draw with Fitzpatrick. Zalatoris struggled early, making two bogs in the first five holes before his always elusive potter caught fire. He made four of the next six holes and, at one point, held a 2-shot lead over Fitzpatrick. “I fought like crazy,” Zalatoris said, calling his ride “awful” for the week, adding that his hip was bothering him. The usual problems of the 2021 Masters runner-up arose with his athlete, but as he said with a smile on Sunday, his shot was fine. “I’m sure all the idiots on Instagram will say it has to do with the bending of my left wrist coming down,” Zalatoris told putt on 18. “I promise you, it has nothing to do with it.” Zalatoris’s two costly mistakes came at nine back. In the 12th hole, he lost the Fairway and had to drill out, which led to a 2-putt for a bobblehead. At 15, he lost the Fairway again. Fitzpatrick did the same, but lost it so right that he had a better lie than Zalatoris, who was tough. Fitzpatrick made a bird. Zalatoris curled up. The lead was then 2 in favor of Fitzpatrick. In par-3 16th, Zalatoris made a bird sit 1 back. But when Fitzpatrick saved his mistake finding the bunker with a perfect iron shot in the 18th minute, the pressure was back on Zalatoris, who then called Fitzpatrick’s approach “1 in 20”. “I knew very well that Will was going to make it,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is one of the best players on tour.” Zalatoris hit it just 15 feet. Fitzpatrick put 2 par, so Zalatoris knew what he had to do. As he hit the ball and saw it dripping right next to the hole without falling, it was Zalatoris who fell to his knees in agony. The champion was decided. “I have already been asked, how nervous were you at putt on 18?” said Zalatoris. “It’s like I have nothing to lose. It either comes in or it doesn’t.” Even after a hard-fought defeat, Zalatoris showed confidence, saying he had the recipe to win. With less than a month until the next big one – The Open in St. Andrews – Zalatoris said he is happy to try again soon. “I’m not happy about finishing second,” he said. “Obviously I’m trying to do it. The level of comfort is there, especially now that I know I can do it. I just have to keep waiting my turn.”