2021 AT&T Byron Nelson: Top 10 picks at TPC Craig Ranch

You know you were on some sort of hot streak when a T-42nd and a missed cut in back to back events feels like a big letdown.

It was Will Zalatoris’ first MC since the Sanderson Farms Championship in October. Before that, his last one was in August 2019 on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Zalatoris is still just a special temporary member on the PGA Tour and not exempt into the FedEx Cup Playoffs unless he wins an event. Fortunately for him, he can accept unlimited sponsor’s exemptions so he’s here in the field this week and likely for weeks to come.

His top-50 world ranking has him set to get into the upcoming major championships.

How he surged into the top 50 is thanks largely to his solo second place finish at the Masters. The work was already done before that, though, with T-6th at last year’s U.S. Open. It led to four more top-10s on the PGA Tour and several more top-30s.

Zalatoris should also be licking his chops for the AT&T Byron Nelson because for a change he has more course history than most of the field. He resides nearby in Plano and played high school golf in the Dallas area, too.

Zalatoris has gotten in rounds at TPC Craig Ranch before on his own and while as an amateur at Wake Forest when he competed at Korn Ferry Tour Second Stage in 2017.

The Big Z ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.897) and 10th in SG tee to green (1.278). He’s not the longest out there, but he hits the ball plenty far.

Four par-5s on the card this week set up well for him as he’s ninth in par-5 scoring (4.5).