While many of the world’s best players are in the Bahamas this week for Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, Will Zalatoris is in South Africa for the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The man affectionally known as Willy Z spoke with the DPWT about his offseason and the extensive work he’s put in to return to the form that saw him win the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2022.
“It has been a great offseason,” he said. “I have worked probably the hardest I ever have. I picked up 15 pounds of muscle this offseason. I absolutely busted my tail trying to get my speed back, really get better with the broomstick and it has been good.
“I haven’t played much but that was on purpose. I wanted to be home, be able to eat my 4,500 calories a day and 200 grams of protein and train and get better.”
Zalatoris mentioned that this was his first true offseason in years, as the PGA Tour’s old wraparound season and injury rehab took up most of his time in the past.
Will Zalatoris tees off on the third hole during a practice round for The Masters 2024 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY)
The 28-year-old pulled out of the Masters in 2023 due to a back injury, and after having surgery shortly after leaving Augusta National, the fan-favorite has been working his way back to form ever since.
As for other activities he’s been up to this week, Zalatoris went on a safari to catch a glimpse of the wildlife South Africa has to offer.
“It was incredible,” he said. “We saw everything you could think of: lions, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, everything. Big five, little five, ugly five … all of it. It was just an amazing experience.”
After Thursday’s first round of the Nedbank, Zalatoris is tied for 41st in the 66-man field at 2 over, while defending champion Max Homa is alone in first at 6 under.
Plenty of folks in Japan will be fixated to a television screen or their phone Saturday morning. Including Max Homa and Collin Morikawa.
The duo is teeing it up this week in the 2024 Zozo Championship, but they’re far from the only Los Angeles Dodgers fans in Japan. That’s thanks to Shohei Ohtani, the best player in baseball, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a standout pitcher.
With Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees beginning in California around the same time as the third round of the 2024 Zozo Championship will begin across the Pacific Ocean, fans in Japan will also have their eyes fixated on Dodger Stadium.
“Obviously we have two Japanese players on the Dodgers that are
tremendous, one of which is Ohtani, who is the best baseball player I’ve ever seen,” Homa said. “So it’s quite cool to come here. I’ve actually seen quite a few L.A. hats. It’s quite neat to be in Japan when the best baseball player in the world is Japanese and he’s on the team I root for. It’s kind of a dream scenario.”
The time difference makes for coffee baseball in Japan, which gives fans plenty of time to cheer for the Dodgers (or Yankees) before spending the afternoon on the golf course cheering on some of the best players from the PGA Tour.
“It’s been great watching the Dodgers play in Japan, in Tokyo. It was nice because they had it on TV. You wake up in the morning and it’s on,” Morikawa said. “They’ll probably be playing I’m guessing when we’re out on the golf course, but we’ll be taking a peek here and there for sure.”
It won’t be a shock to see fans keeping the players informed while waiting on tee boxes or walking down fairways. And even with a seven-figure payday on the line, Homa isn’t afraid to show his Dodgers’ fandom.
“I would be lying if I said I wish I wasn’t home a little bit so I could go to the game, or a game, but yeah, it’s neat to be here,” Homa said. “I’m hopeful to see some more L.A. hats. And yeah, it’s been great, the run they’ve been on, it’s been very fun to watch.”
During the Solheim Cup, Alison Lee and Megan Khang’s caddies Jack Fulghum and Taylor “Shota” Takada made a bet that if one of their players holed out, they would take their shirts off. Two holes later, it happened.
Well, Max Homa was watching from home, and he posted on social media about the interaction. That’s when Kevin Kisner chimed in, saying if Homa did it at the 2024 Presidents Cup, he would do the same.
Well, Homa holed out. He did so on the first hole Sunday of his singles match against Mackenzie Hughes. And while it didn’t happen immediately, Kisner eventually did follow through on his end of the bet once the celebration began.
MONTREAL – Max Homa is tired of throwing mud at the wall.
It was a frustrating season for Homa, who failed to make it back to Atlanta and the Tour Championship. It began with great promise after he went to South Africa in November and won the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Then he was chasing his first major championship into the back nine on Sunday at the Masters until he made a disastrous double bogey at No. 12. The rest of the season? Fairly pedestrian with just one top-10 finish since that has seen him tumbling down the world rankings from No. 7 to currently 25th.
“It was bizarre,” Homa said in describing his play. “Kind of just started last off-season. I wasn’t swinging the club well, and I just felt like I was throwing mud at the wall all year and could not find anything that would stick.”
In an effort to rediscover his mojo, Homa has parted ways with instructor Mark Blackburn. When asked about who he’s working with now, Homa said, “I’ve been solo…. I have a buddy I’ve sent videos to and we’ve chatted about my golf swing. Joe has taken a big role in checking ball positions and distance to the ball and things like that.”
Homa confirmed he made the decision after the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
“It’s just a tough year. Time for a change. It’s unfortunate, I love Mark. He’s basically a part of my family. He’s just been an amazing human being,” Homa said on Wednesday during a media session ahead of the Presidents Cup. “But at times, the communication gets hard. I think everyone in here has gone through that at some point. It’s one of those things, more for me I need a break and sometimes I don’t do a great job of taking ownership of my own golf swing so kind of putting the ball in my court a bit, and you know, trying to figure it out myself. I mean, as much as a coach can be brilliant, a genius like Mark, I know my golf swing better than anybody, and I can see it and feel it. Just trying to take some ownership like that.”
Homa’s decision continues a growing trend that effectively began with Tiger Woods, to take great ownership of their golf swing. Justin Thomas, Tony Finau and Adam Scott are among other top players who have decided to go solo rather than having a coach who travels to tournaments and works on their swing.
Homa played in the 50-man field BMW Championship and finished T-33 and missed the cut at the Procore Championship two weeks ago.
“I did a bunch of setup changes, and just got to like work through that,” said Homa, who is on the bench Thursday for the four-ball session.
Homa hopes he can turn a new leaf and regain the magic that made him a consistent winner over the last several years and a player who seemed on the verge of a major championship breakthrough.
“Probably spent too much time throwing mud and not enough time trying to figure out how to get the ball in the hole,” he said.
Max Homa made a great run at the Masters in April — tying for third — but has struggled in the two major championships since, finishing T-35 at the PGA Championship and missing the cut at the 2024 U.S. Open this week. (He wasn’t the only big name to trunk slam on Friday.)
He opened with a 1-over 71 on Thursday, but signed for a disappointing 5-over 75 Friday and missed out on the weekend by one shot.
Homa will be watching the tournament from home this weekend and he’ll be rooting for the golf course to provide some carnage.
The moment I wake up on a Saturday after missing the cut I root for the course to become impossible so I can laugh at all the stupid players who whooped my ass. I shot 6 over and will shamelessly be this gif all weekend: pic.twitter.com/dc85vkLwKG
Homa is in the field for next week’s Travelers Championship, the final signature event of the season. He missed the cut at TPC River Highlands last year.
After being officially eliminated, Homa took to his personal Instagram and referenced Scheffler’s arrest snafu in the most hilarious way. There’s a means for positive self-reflection on social media; then there’s taking one of your friends to task while looking forward meaningfully.
Homa managed to accomplish both while keeping the fire burning about the madness surrounding Scheffler.
After TGL’s stadium collapsed at the end of last year, its debut was pushed back to 2025. But as the date draws closer, we now have a significant information about the start-up technology-driven league started by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports.
The first night of matches will take place on Jan. 7, 2025, in primetime on ESPN.
“As we plan the 2025 launch of TGL presented by SoFi, we now have the first three Tuesdays in January circled to introduce sports fans to this new form of team golf. January is a tremendous time of year for fans looking for prime time sports and TGL’s launch will complement the start of the PGA TOUR season and take advantage of ESPN’s promotional machine across their coverage of the NFL and college football playoffs,” said Mike McCarley, founder and CEO of TMRW Sports.
Countless PGA Tour stars are involved in the new circuit, including Woods, McIlroy, Max Homa, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, among others.
Learn everything you need to know about the TGL below.
There is only one TGL team brand and roster left to be revealed and that should be happening very soon.
TGL, the Palm Beach Gardens-based interactive golf league, is “full steam ahead” according to one of its co-founders, Hall of Famer Tiger Woods.
Woods, the Jupiter Island resident, answered questions via e-mail exclusively for The Palm Beach Post about his team, Jupiter Links GC, and the league that has overcome the setback of the roof on its original building collapsing in November due to a power outage and wind storm. The incident forced the start date to be pushed back one year.
“Once we have all teams and rosters finalized, I think people will start to learn more about our competition, technology and format,” Woods said. “It’s starting to feel real and I couldn’t be more excited for January.”
Woods’ team, which includes Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner, was revealed Monday. All six four-man rosters are known, with the exception of two spots. The San Francisco team has yet to be officially revealed.
The final piece was TMRW Sports Group, which owns TGL, receiving approval from Palm Beach State College to construct a permanent arena on its campus along PGA Boulevard. That came one month ago. The venue, which will be known as the SoFi Center, will have seating for 1,500 fans.
TMRW Sports was formed by sports executive Mike McCarley, Woods and Jupiter’s Rory McIlroy in partnership with the PGA Tour.
The league is scheduled to launch Jan. 7 with matches held once a week. The plan is for each team to play five matches followed by playoffs.
Max Homa and Tiger Woods interact during Day One of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 14, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Here is what Woods told The Post about his team and the progress being made:
Q: How did Jupiter Links GC come together?
A: “TGL league policy was to prioritize player schedules first so that all the guys could commit to and play their normal, desired PGA Tour schedule. Last thing we wanted was a player to not play in an event due to a TGL match.
“With that, I have three guys on my team that I enjoy being around, that I know are going to work hard and grind as team members, can talk a little trash and will have a great time. If I compete in something, I want to win. Jupiter Links now has one of the top all-around players in the world in Max Homa, one of the fastest-rising young stars in Tom Kim and I’ll put Kiz up against anyone in team play. So while I didn’t hand pick this team, I’m thrilled at where Jupiter Links Golf Club stands.”
Q: What do you like about how each players’ game fits the TGL format?
A: “I think each player is going to bring a lot of game and personality to Jupiter Links. TGL’s format, which includes a shot clock, time outs, and both team and individual match play, is really going to highlight our players’ talents and bring a fresh, modern, and fast-paced twist to the game we all love so much.”
Q: What is your excitement level on how TGL is progressing with its new venue, teams being announced?
A: “We are full steam ahead on the new design and build of SoFi Center and after this Jupiter Links announcement, there is only one TGL team brand and roster left to be revealed – the San Francisco team – and that should be happening very soon.
“Once we have all teams and rosters finalized, I think people will start to learn more about our competition, technology and format. It’s starting to feel real and I couldn’t be more excited for January.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf writer for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
A rising star and PGA Tour veteran round out the four-man team.
Like most players of his generation, Max Homa grew up idolizing Tiger Woods on the golf course. Now the two are teammates.
TGL, the tech-infused golf league backed by Woods and Rory McIlroy slated to now start early in 2025, announced its latest team roster on Monday morning. Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club will feature the fan-favorite Homa, rising star Tom Kim and veteran Kevin Kisner.
“I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods, who is part owner of Jupiter Links. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
— Jupiter Links Golf Club (@JupiterLinksGC) April 22, 2024
The club said the logo “brings to life the vibrant energy of Jupiter, with the ‘Palm Flag’ signature element combining beach and golf lifestyle with a golf pin flag and palm tree. The handwritten font is a nod to Tiger’s signature and the palm branches breaking the red circle represent the rising sun on the horizon.” As for the colors, the primary is, of course, “Tiger Red,” alongside midnight blue, sand and sunrise.
Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner will play for Jupiter Links Golf Club in the TGL. (Photo: Courtesy of TGL)
David Blitzer, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, is personally investing in Jupiter Links GC. Harris and Blitzer’s impressive portfolio include the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Joe Gibbs Racing.
Blitzer is also a co-owner of MLB’s Cleveland Guardians and the NFL’s Washington Commanders, as well as a General Partner of Crystal Palace Football Club in the English Premier League. He also owns stake in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake of and the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Homa called Scheffler, “one of the best players I think we’ll ever see.”
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – In the lead up to the 88th Masters last week, ESPN commentators were asked how they thought Scottie Scheffler would do if he putted adequately. When host Scott Van Pelt weighed in on the chances of the world No. 1, he didn’t hesitate to say that Scheffler should be the pick.
“There’s a reason why his odds are in Tiger territory. They’re as low as anyone’s we’ve seen since Tiger. That’s because the answer to your question, if he putts adequately, he wins,” Van Pelt said. “Sometimes you don’t have to try so hard. You don’t have to squint so hard to see the answer. It’s just a big bold type in front of your face, Scottie Scheffler. Scottie Scheffler is going to play well at Augusta, the end. When he does on Sunday and he’s right there with a chance, you’ll go, of course. If he putts well, then he’ll win. It’s really that simple, isn’t it?”
Two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North seconded the notion as only he can. “It’s like that hot doughnut sign about 1 in the morning,” he added.
“He’s just been annoying everyone for the last three months, hasn’t he?” Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, said.
Max Homa, who finished tied for third at the Masters, called Scheffler, “one of the best players I think we’ll ever see.”
The predominant belief among the players is that the gap between Scheffler and everyone may not be the size of the Grand Canyon but it’s wider than Rae’s Creek.
Wyndham Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champion, has run into the Scheffler buzzsaw on multiple occasions this season, finishing second to him at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship. (Clark missed the cut at his first Masters.)
“The thing that I really am impressed by him is just the consistency that he’s always in contention, and either he wins or he finishes kind of top 5. I do think there’s a little gap right now, and I’m hoping as I progress as a player mentally and physically and everything that maybe by the end of the year or sometime next year maybe I’ve closed that gap a little bit,” he said.
Clark is motivated to get better for future battles and is confident his best is good enough to beat Scheffler even when’s he’s playing well. But the pursuit of better is what drives him.
Wyndham Clark walks off the No. 2 green during the first round of the 2024 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network)
“It just brings the overall quality of play up significantly when someone is playing that good all the time. I think everyone looks at themselves in the mirror and goes, what do I need to get better at because you feel like you’re playing good golf and you’re not beating him,” Clark said. “I think it would be great if we could have multiple guys that are kind of battling it out all the time. I don’t know if that’s me or could be someone else, but I would love for it to be me, and I’m working as hard as I can to be that person.”
Homa played alongside Scheffler last year at the U.S. Open in Los Angeles and came away starstruck by Scheffler’s brilliance.
“I just kept thinking to myself, man, must be nice, that’s just incredible, and then he’s done it for a year. Those are like great weeks that you like harken back to. He does this every week,” Homa said. “It’s definitely unique what he’s doing.”
Homa was asked if he found trying to catch Scheffler to be more daunting or challenging?
Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler walk up the seventh hole during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. (Photo: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)
“More challenging, I would say. I think it’s inspiring. It makes you look at your game even more closely to figure out what you would do to get on his level,” Homa said. “I think because of the Tiger era when he was just running through golf tournament after golf tournament and just annihilating everybody, it was probably more daunting because we had never seen anything like that.”
Scheffler, for one, expressed concern that playing at Harbour Town Golf Links this week could be more challenging for him than the Masters as he battles fatigue, but he never considered withdrawing and staying home in Dallas with wife Meredith, who is awaiting the birth of their first child later this month.
“I think playing in contention at majors and especially winning takes a lot out of you. There’s a lot of stuff that goes on after the Masters on Sunday, and you get home very late, and emotionally I think I’m a bit drained,” Scheffler said.
But if the remaining 68 players in the field think this means that he’s grown complacent, think again. Scheffler made it clear he’s going to rest up and recover and aiming to bring home his fourth title in his last five starts.
“I’m not showing up here just to walk around and play a little golf,” he said. “I left my pregnant wife at home to come here and play in a golf tournament. I am here to play and hopefully play well. I’m not here just for fun.”
The birth of the Scheffler’s first child may be the only thing that can slow him down. Homa, for one, was asked if he’d be in favor of a mandatory three-month paternity leave?
“No, I want to beat his ass pretty bad at some point,” he said. “I’d be lying if I wasn’t thinking a little bit about last week if Meredith did go into labor. The beauty of this is you want to beat the best when they’re at their best.”
