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2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Top 10 power rankings

By Mike Randleman

Two boats sail next to the Pebble Beach Golf Links that is homes to some of the most expensive homes in Monterey County in Pebble Beach, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.
Two boats sail next to the Pebble Beach Golf Links that is homes to some of the most expensive homes in Monterey County in Pebble Beach, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. /
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Feb 12, 2021; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 13th tee during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2021; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 13th tee during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

The scouting report is very much out on Will Zalatoris.

One of pro golf’s best ball-strikers is one of its worst putters.

Short putt after short putt slid by for Big Z, yet he still advanced to a playoff last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, an event that was ultimately won by Luke List.

Zalatoris shot 69-68-65-71 to finish solo second at Torrey Pines after sharing the 54-hole lead.

It matches his career-best finish, previously set at the 2021 Masters.

ShotLink statistics were not kept on Torrey Pines’ North course last week at the Farmers. In three rounds at the South, Zalatoris was first in strokes gained approach (7.914) and SG tee to green (12.445). That’s Jekyll. Hyde was ranking 64th in SG putting (-1.271).

Credit to the young player for answering plenty of questions after the round with composure after missing out on a golden opportunity. Pocketing over $900,00 certainly helps.

“I want to go get next week, it’s pretty simple. I’ve got no regrets today at all,” Zalatoris was transcribed by Tee Scripts. “Like I said, I thought I battled like hell all day and handled myself really well. I had my chances, for sure, but that’s just the nature of this game. It’s hard to win out here, there’s no question about that.”

He’ll be back on poa annua greens this week. As a Texas native and an east coast collegiate golfer at Wake Forest, he’s more accustomed to surfaces like bent and Bermuda. By the same token, poa greens are bumpy and unpredictable for everyone.

Maybe that can bring Zalatoris back to the field a bit in that regard.

It seems like a matter of time until the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year earns his first win.

Along with his two aforementioned runner-up finishes, Zalatoris has racked up 10 top-10s since 2020.

The 25-year-old is making his second appearance at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, though he’ll be playing Monterey Peninsula for the first time. Zalatoris finished T-55th in 2021. He posted 69, 75, and 69 in the first, third, and fourth rounds at Pebble Beach and 74 in the second round at Spyglass Hill.

Zalatoris ranks first on the PGA Tour this season in SG per round in approach (1.237) and first SG tee to green (2.094).

He’s been inaccurate off the tee as a pro, but his wiry frame produces a ton of clubhead speed to allow him to still rank 14th in SG off the tee (.617). His distance advantage is negated at a trio of shorter courses at the Pro-Am, but he can lay back with shorter clubs to try to hit more fairways and still have short irons in on approach and par-5s he can attack.

The extra day of rest after last week’s Saturday finish will be perfect to give Zalatoris the time to recharge and continue the form that also includes a T-6th two weeks ago at The American Express.

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