Will Zalatoris gives his verdict on the course at the Valspar Championship and reveals what ‘everyone’ was telling him about the tournament

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Will Zalatoris only made his debut at the Valspar Championship on Thursday, yet he’s already made up his mind about the course.

Zalatoris usually skips the tournament, which comes straight after The Players Championship, and heads to the Houston Open the following week.

However, this year, he chose to take part in the event at the Innisbrook Golf Resort and it seems he’s already happy with his decision.

The 28-year-old explained his thoughts on the course after the first round at the Valspar Championship.

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Will Zalatoris already loves the Valspar Championship course after one round

Zalatoris started his opening round at the Valspar Championship with a bogey on the 10th hole but, thankfully, that didn’t set the tone for the rest of the day.

It wasn’t a vintage performance from the world number 61 by any means, however, his even-par 71 was a solid effort at the difficult Copperhead Course.

Four shots behind the leaders after the close of play on Thursday, Zalatoris shared his thoughts on the venue and whether it lived up to expectations after what he had been told about it previously.

“Yeah, I do [like it]. It’s very unique. We don’t really get to play courses like this that are, I would say, over time 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 of 15 to 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.”

Weather forecast puts Will Zalatoris at disadvantage at Valspar Championship

Like most tournaments, those who played in the morning in round one at the Valspar Championship were given afternoon tee times for round two and vice versa.

Zalatoris was unlucky on Thursday as the wind picked up when he was on the course in the afternoon and he has been again on Friday as this time it’s the morning that’s expected to be windier.

Here’s what the American had to say about the conditions potentially going against him: “Yeah, the forecast is 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 waves 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.”

It could be worse, at least he didn’t have to finish his first round on Friday after darkness suspended play at the Valspar Championship on Thursday.