2022 Tour Championship: Top 10 power rankings at East Lake

A horribly timed back injury could cost Will Zalatoris $15 million and a FedEx Cup title.

He was atop the golf world a couple weeks ago when he won his long-awaited first PGA Tour event at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Zalatoris was T-22nd and 3-under-par headed to the weekend last week at the BMW Championship before he had to withdraw during the third round with a back injury. It appeared he hurt it hitting his second shot on the fourth hole.

At time of writing, the Big Z is still in the field at the Tour Championship. Golf’s a sport where injury transparency lags behind other top American sports leagues.

It’s hard to know what Zalatoris can summon this week. He’s behooved to at least give it a go given the guaranteed payouts, but it may be tough for him to win it all.

Fortunately for the Wake Forest grad, WD’ing last week didn’t submarine his chances.

Zalatoris will begin the week alone in third place at 7-under, three back of fellow Dallas area resident, Scottie Scheffler.

This is Zalatoris’ Tour Championship debut.

Had he been eligible last season, he would’ve been in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and had a good shot at getting to East Lake.

The 26-year-old’s win in Memphis was the culmination of an impressive season. Zalatoris is up to eight top-10s, including three runner-ups with two coming at majors.

These results helped him lock up one of six automatic qualifying spots on the American Presidents Cup team.

He leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach per round (1.063) and is first in SG tee to green (1.77).

Playing from the short grass is key this week in Atlanta. Zalatoris is second in proximity from the fairway (27’9”).

If he were healthy, I’d consider Zalatoris to make up the three shots he trails Scottie Scheffler by. With unknowns about his back, I’m limiting him to a top-10 finish.