Will Zalatoris encouraged by runner-up finish at PGA Championship: ‘Matter of time’

TULSA, Okla. — If there’s ever a participant who’s attributable to break by with a victory it’s Will Zalatoris, who was edged out in a playoff by Justin Thomas in Sunday’s ultimate spherical of the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

The 25-year-old Zalatoris, who’s nonetheless in search of his first PGA Tour victory, has been at his greatest in main championships, with a runner-up on the 2021 Masters, a tie for sixth this yr at Augusta, a tie for sixth on the 2020 U.S. Open, a tie for eighth ultimately yr’s PGA and now Sunday’s PGA runner-up end.

“I fought like loopy all day,’’ Zalatoris, who shot a 1-over-par 71 in regulation Sunday and was 1-under within the three-hole playoff, stated. “Fairly pleased with the end result that I had. I believe [Saturday] was actually the day that wanting again on it, I used to be fairly annoyed with (he shot 73).

“I’m clearly fairly proud to be sitting on this place contemplating Saturday, by no means thought I'd have been standing right here. I’m fairly excited the place my sport is at for certain and I do know I’m going to get one. Only a matter of time.’’

PGA Championship
Justin Thomas (l.) shakes arms with Will Zalatoris.
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Mito Pereira was pure class after dropping the lead on the ultimate gap when he hit his tee shot into the creek that runs down the left broad of the 18th fairway.

“It’s not how I needed to finish up this week, however actually good end result,’’ the 27-year-old from Chile stated. “Performed actually good. In the present day I used to be actually nervous. I attempted to deal with it a bit of bit however it’s actually robust. I believed I used to be going to win on 18, however it's what it's. We’ll have one other one.

“I simply performed actually good golf, three days. Get a bit of little bit of expertise for this fourth within the ultimate group on a tricky course that you must hit it nicely. If not, you’re going to shoot 5-over. I simply didn’t hit it rather well at the moment, and for subsequent time, I’ll simply be a bit of bit extra ready.’’

Zalatoris, who was enjoying within the group forward of Pereira, sympathized with him, saying, “He performed unbelievably nicely this week. This 18th gap is likely one of the hardest ending holes in all of golf. Hats off to him for taking part in so nicely. He’s an extremely stable participant tee-to-green and on the greens, so he’s going to be a pressure to be reckoned with sooner or later.’’


Rory McIlroy is getting sick of this. His main championship drought, which dates again eight years, seems to be attending to the 33-year-old from Northern Eire.

McIlroy, who began the week by taking the first-round lead with a 5-under-par 65, adopted that by enjoying himself out of the lead — and competition — with a second-round 71 and a third-round 74.

On Sunday, McIlroy appeared on his strategy to one other too-little-too-late rally, mounting a run with consecutive birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 to get to 2-under par for the event. That, nevertheless, is the place the run ended as he parred his approach on from No. 6 and completed 2-under for the day and the event.

Rory McIlroy reacts during the last round of the PGA Championship Sunday.
Rory McIlroy reacts over the past spherical of the PGA Championship Sunday.
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When he was completed, McIlroy, often probably the greatest interviews within the sport, declined to return into the interview space to talk to reporters after which, contained in the locker room, blew previous reporters in search of to talk to him.

It wasn’t a very good look on the a part of McIlroy, however it was an illustration of the rising temperature of his frustration degree.


Talor Gooch, the one native of Oklahoma within the discipline this week, completed 1-over par for the event after a closing spherical of 2-under-par 68 Sunday, referred to as the week “nearly as good as I might think about.’’

He referred to as the week “the definition of golf,’’ including, “The primary three days, I hit it nice and actually didn’t get a lot out of my sport. In the present day I hit it not superb in any respect and had greatest spherical of the week.

“That was a great way to finish it. I simply want [Saturday] we might have gotten extra out of the standard of play that I had.’’

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