VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 20, 2025

Will Zalatoris

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. Kind of a unique conditions afternoon, I guess how would you describe how it kind of ping ponged out there this afternoon?

WILL ZALATORIS: Yeah, the forecast is a pretty unique because having the wind pick up throughout the day, have a little lull and then tomorrow it's supposed to be windier in the morning. So, yeah maybe not in the greatest of wave on paper but at the same time it's kind of nice to have a couple of holes where we weren't really blowing 30, 35. So it's just one of those places where you got to be patient and it's part of the reason why the scoreboard is so tight. I mean, I'm even, four back, and it's like I'm in 40th place. So that's the epitome of this place.

Q. What would you say is the challenge of this course and do you like kind of the test presented here?

WILL ZALATORIS: Yeah, I do. It's very unique. We don't really get to play courses like this that are, I would say, overtime the greens have shrunk and you have this three to four yards of bunkering that's just far off the green. So it's definitely unique. It's my first time here, I love it. Everyone's told me I was going to love it, especially with it being a ball-striker's paradise. So I'll take even par. Would have been nice to make a couple 15-, 20-footers, but with it blowing 30 today it was just -- we were playing putts outside right when in reality if there wasn't any wind they were probably a cup out left.

Q. I have to ask about the caddie bib, can you explain that?

WILL ZALATORIS: There's a movie coming out in July 25th that I may or may not be a part of, and so, yeah, I had a good giggle when they asked me what I wanted to put on the back of my caddie bib and I sent it to Adam and he loved it.

Q. Do you remember how many times would you estimate you've watched that movie growing up?

WILL ZALATORIS: How many times have I watched it? Too many, especially with preparation for the movie or filming. So it was a blast, so the beauty of it is if you think my acting is terrible, well I'm not a actor, so that's fine.

Q. Do you have a favorite character from the movie, other than Happy?

WILL ZALATORIS: Yeah, probably the caddie from the first movie. I think that's a fair answer, since it got me into the second one. So it was, like I said it was a really cool experience and a lot of fun and being able to see guys. One thing that's very cool about Adam and his team is they have been together literally for 35 years, so they're on such a, they're on such a the same wave length that they can just look at each other and they know what they're thinking. So it's, it was a really cool time.

Q. Do you remember the first time you were compared to his caddie?

WILL ZALATORIS: I won the college showcase in 2015, which the now Genesis Invitational, and I had, typical college kid, hadn't gotten a haircut in about five or six months, and Golf Channel posted a photo after I won The Showcase, and somebody mentioned it and immediately it picked up. So, yeah, I've laughed at it. A couple buddies that I've known for a long time have always kind of compared me to that kid too, especially when I had the longer hair when I first came out here. So, yeah, I'm glad -- I had to pinch myself when we did filming it, it was pretty cool.

Q. You probably never would have thought as a kid that that could happen.

WILL ZALATORIS: No, no, I've never taken a drama class in my life, I had no idea what I was doing, but basically they said act like a moron as much as you possibly can, and I said, Well, that's pretty easy for me. So it was, like I said, it was a really fun time and hopefully everybody enjoys it when it comes out.

Q. Do you did you have a favorite line from the original?

WILL ZALATORIS: Yeah, "Where you going with those clubs, punk?"