Collin Morikawa pulls away for six-shot lead at Sentry Tournament of Champions

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Longtime PGA TOUR executive Charlie Zink, whose distinguished career with the organization began in 1986, has announced his retirement, after fulfilling his role as Chairman of the recent Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. Zink, who initially joined the TOUR as Chief Financial Officer, eventually rose to Co-Chief Operating Officer, a position he held from 2002-2016, with oversight responsibility for many TOUR business areas. His duties included oversight of consolidated financial, executive board and administrative activities; TPC and Golf Course properties operations; The First Tee and World Golf Hall of Fame development and operations (since inception); and Championship Management Tournament activities, including THE PLAYERS Championship, the Presidents Cup and TOUR Championship. “Charlie’s primary responsibilities during his time as Co-Chief Operating Officer were extensive, during a period of enormous growth for the PGA TOUR,� said former PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Charlie has played an integral role in the PGA TOUR’s growth and success over the past three decades, providing invaluable knowledge and leadership across a broad spectrum of our business areas,� said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The entire PGA TOUR family is extremely grateful for his many contributions, including his Chairmanship role of providing valuable oversight to assure the Presidents Cup’s successful first venture into the New York City market. We all wish Charlie the very best as he transitions into the next phase of his life. “It has indeed been a privilege to have this magnificent opportunity to work for the PGA TOUR and all of the players in a variety of leadership capacities over the past 31 years,� said Zink. “The PGA TOUR stands for the highest level of integrity and individual performance-based accomplishment, and it also has a keen focus on communities and charitable endeavors. I am extremely proud of the PGA TOUR, the players and all my colleagues, and I know we have a highly capable, professional team leading the TOUR’s efforts going forward. I have been truly blessed to be here.� Last year, Zink was named Chairman of the 2017 Presidents Cup, the biennial event between the U.S. and International Teams, which was held September 26-October 1.

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BROOKLINE, Mass. – Will Zalatoris’ career goal is to win a major championship. The goal was rooted at age 6, when a young Zalatoris noticed Ken Venturi’s 1964 U.S. Open trophy on display at the California Golf Club of San Francisco, one of two courses that cultivated his love for the game as an elementary schooler, alongside par-3 Mariners Point Golf Center. “Probably when I recognized the U.S. Open trophy being at Cal Club,” said Zalatoris of his goal’s origins. “Walked by it every single day when we went to Cal Club. It’s still sitting there.” Zalatoris has done everything in his power to reach this goal, putting himself in position time and time again to chase a major championship title. He entered this week’s U.S. Open at The Country Club with five top-10 finishes in eight career major starts, including a runner-up at the 2021 Masters and a playoff loss to Justin Thomas at last month’s PGA Championship. He’s in position yet again at Brookline, where he competed at the 2013 U.S. Amateur and has long regarded as one the most difficult courses he has played. On a demanding Saturday afternoon outside Boston, Zalatoris carded 3-under 67, the day’s low round. Zalatoris began the third round trailing 36-hole co-leaders Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen by four strokes. He ended the day at 4-under, tied for the clubhouse lead with Matt Fitzpatrick – winner of the 2013 U.S. Amateur at Brookline, where Zalatoris fell five strokes shy of qualifying for match play. Zalatoris, 25, is regarded as perhaps the best player yet to notch a PGA TOUR title, and it’s not for lack of opportunities. The Wake Forest alum stands No. 13 on the FedExCup standings, with seven top-10s in 17 starts including two runner-up finishes, the highest-ranked player on the FedExCup without a career TOUR victory. He’s No. 14 on the Official World Golf Ranking, also the highest ranked without a TOUR title. Zalatoris, known as one of the game’s premier ball strikers, clearly thrives on the demanding setups presented by major championships. Saturday afternoon at The Country Club fit the bill with consistent winds, narrow targets and increasingly firm greens. The first-year PGA TOUR member, who won 2021 TOUR Rookie of the Year honors as a non-member, wasn’t fazed. He made birdie on holes 2, 4 and 9, offset by just one bogey at the short par-4 seventh. He made eight pars on the back nine, adding a birdie at the 503-yard, par-4 15th after a short iron to 5 feet. He got up and down from a front greenside bunker at No. 18 to post the day’s low round, one better than Fitzpatrick and Denny McCarthy. Zalatoris previously said that he felt “imposter syndrome” in his PGA Championship playoff against Thomas. As he finds this stage time and again, his confidence grows. Throughout his career, he has maintained a consistent self-belief that he’s working on the right things and capable of performing on the highest level. “Coming off the PGA (Championship), it gave me a lot of belief and confidence that I belong in this situation,” Zalatoris said. “There’s a difference in thinking it and then actually being in the situation and believing it. So I think that’s probably the biggest change. “I’ve put myself in this situation a few times in my career, and obviously have to go out and get it tomorrow.” Zalatoris didn’t see immediate success in professional golf. After falling short at Q-School, he earned enough points as a Korn Ferry Tour non-member (via a combination of Monday qualifiers and sponsor exemptions) to gain Special Temporary Membership. He fell short of earning a TOUR card via the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Finals, and after accruing the most Korn Ferry Tour points throughout the 2020 calendar year, he earned enough non-member FedExCup points that fall to earn Special Temporary Membership on TOUR. He’s now a first-year TOUR member, but his game indicates a confidence and maturity beyond his years. It has been earned. Now he takes aim at his first TOUR title, his first major title, against a backdrop that appears well suited for his skill set. Somewhere, that 6-year-old kid is nodding with approval. “I’ve had a few long waits so far in my career,” Zalatoris said. “I’ll make sure I try to stay up a little bit tonight and make sure I sleep in just to kill some time. The fact that this place is that brutal and that there are so many major champions around the leaderboard … I don’t feel like I’m trying to protect it by any means. “Stick to the routine and go play some twilight golf.”

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