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2021 Charles Schwab Challenge: Top 10 power rankings at Colonial CC

By Mike Randleman

Jun 10, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; A general view of the 18th green and clubhouse at Colonial Country Club during a practice round for the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; A general view of the 18th green and clubhouse at Colonial Country Club during a practice round for the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 14, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 16th tee during the second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2021; McKinney, Texas, USA; Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 16th tee during the second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /

Another major, another top-10 for Will Zalatoris. The 24-year-old Texan continues to dazzle after finishing T-8th (71-74-72-70) at the PGA Championship.

Zalatoris never truly contended at Kiawah Island, but it was further proof his game, and specifically his ball striking, can hold up in the toughest circumstances. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon ranked fifth in the field in strokes gained off the tee (3.995 total) and second in SG approach (8.171).

Things could have been different had he not finished outside the top 50 in SG around the green and putting. The putter has been his bugaboo, but he knows it’s an issue to address.

Give him more time to work on mechanics and more experience on PGA Tour greens and improvement with the flat stick should come.

“Really the last couple weeks been working really hard on kind of the basics that we’ve worked on over the last couple years, and Josh Gregory and I, my short game coach, spent a lot of time together over the last couple weeks to figure out some stuff,” Zalatoris was transcribed by ASAP Sports during the PGA Championship. “I got out of posture really in my putting.”

Zalatoris finished T-6th at the 2020 U.S. Open and solo second at the 2021 Masters.

He owns four top-10s and nine top-25s in 2021.

This has all been done on PGA Tour special temporary status unless he wins an event before the end of the season. Until the fall, he’s technically still a Korn Ferry Tour member, but can utilize unlimited sponsors exemptions.

You think any tournament is going to leave him out of their field? I don’t think so.

The Big Z ranks third on the season in SG approach (1.025). His driving accuracy isn’t the greatest, so being able to club down and rely on his irons might be the game plan this week.

Zalatoris is 24th in par-4 scoring (3.99). He’s made 13 of his last 14 cuts. Expect him to not only build on that, but be in contention for win No. 1 at a place where he’ll receive plenty of fanfare.

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