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Lesson Learned: Will Zalatoris' Experiences Help Him Prepare and Fill His Toolbox for Masters Debut

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

We are a product of our experiences. Good or bad, these moments in time help shape our golf game. Deep right? Bare with me..there is a point to this sentiment. 
Will Zalatoris was certainly a name that was flying under the radar entering his Masters debut this week. Zalatoris was a fairly late entry into the field at Augusta by way of being ranked inside the top 50 in the World. The 24-year-old Texan, in his rookie year, has made 11-straight cuts and has finished inside the top 10 five times. 
In addition, Zalatoris ranks 4th on Tour in Strokes Gained from Tee to Green, 12th total in Strokes Gained and 12th in Scoring Average — not to mention, a spot in the top 20 in Driving Distance. This is why I started looking at this Masters rookie earlier in the week and began having visions (albeit a relatively long shot) of him potentially being the first since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win in his first trip to Augusta.
After watching him intermediately on the Masters app on Thursday, during an afternoon full of lessons, I caught him as he went Birdie-Birdie at 12 and 13. A little later, I saw the highlight of his Eagle at 15. I thought, “Wow, sure not playing like a Masters rookie.” 
After settling in at home Thursday evening, I learned more about Will. You see, Will grew up in the Dallas area and was friendly with PGA Tour Veteran Lanny Wadkins’s sons. Zalatoris fondly remembers Wadkins talking about how the wind tended to blow down in Amen Corner. Will was 14 years old at the time but remembered those words from the 21-time Tour winner. Surely, these thoughts were pulled from Zalatoris’ toolbox today as he went birdie-birdie at 12 and 13. 
What can we take from this?
We all are products of things we pick up along the way. Consciously or unconsciously. Some of us have the ability to filter through the experiences or the advice we are given and store them away to use at a later date. Being conscious enough to recognize when moments present themselves, where we can use these tools is a critical factor in being successful in golf and in life. 
For my teenage students, I try to impress upon them this concept of being on the lookout for items to stuff away in their proverbial toolboxes — to be prepared for the future.
Many times, we learn the most from negative experiences. A snap hooking a drive into the water on the 18th hole, and making a double bogey to lose by a shot certainly is not a memory we look back upon fondly but it could absolutely be a memory that we learn from. Especially when it comes to handling adversity. 
Many times, we don’t know when a moment may come along where we may need to dive into our toolboxes, but having it filled with things we can use will keep you prepared.
Sometimes, we have the luxury of building up to a moment in time where we can feel confident that the tools we need are there at the ready. 
The potential for that moment being this week in Augusta for Will Zalatoris remains to be seen but so far, after one round, so good.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.

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