Will Zalatoris has been working hard during the PGA Tour off-season in a bid to gain speed ahead of the 2025 campaign, which starts at The Sentry next month.
Zalatoris thought his game was clicking at the Rocket Mortgage Classic back in June, but the 2022 US Open runner-up went on to miss three consecutive cuts.
Now, at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, the 28-year-old is looking to fine-tune his game. Speaking after his first 18 at the Gary Player Golf Course, Zalatoris revealed that he’s added 15 pounds of muscle over the off-season.
“I have worked probably the hardest I ever have. I picked up 15 pounds of muscle this off-season. I absolutely busted my tail trying to get my speed back, really get better with the broomstick and it has been good,” he told the DP World Tour.
“I haven’t played much, but that was on purpose. I wanted to be home, be able to eat my 4,500 calories a day and 200 grams of protein and train and get better. It’s kind of nice to have a year where instead of rehabbing, I am actually progressing.”
Zalatoris’ decision to pack on the pounds isn’t uncommon. Bryson DeChambeau was the trailblazer back in 2020. However, it’s not something world number one Scottie Scheffler will ever look to do while away from the course.
Scottie Scheffler’s verdict on PGA Tour bulking
Scheffler is participating in this week’s Hero World Challenge, marking his first outing since helping the USA win the Presidents Cup in Montreal.
Speaking after his opening round, in which he shot five under, the world number one revealed that he’s looking to make small improvements rather than completely revamp his swing and body.
“So when it comes to look at improvements, I’m always looking for small ways to improve, but I’m not going to go back and change my body, try and gain 20 pounds so I can hit it further,” Scheffler said.
Scottie Scheffler 2023/24 stats, per PGA Tour website
| Strokes gained | Rank |
| Putting | 95th |
| Off the tee | 2nd |
| Approach to green | 1st |
| Total | 1st |
“I’m not going to, you know, completely revamp the way I swing because there was a couple weeks last year because I was hooking it or fading it. I feel like I have a DNA in my golf swing and in my game that has worked, and I’m continuing to try to refine that. I’m constantly trying to get a little bit stronger, continuing to get a little bit better in my short game, and continuing to get a little bit better in my long game, but not changing the DNA in the way I approach and the way I do things.”
The strongest ever players on the PGA Tour
Over the years, several players have sought improvements by gaining muscle. As mentioned, DeChambeau was the highest-profile case, although the two-time major winner quickly backtracked on his strongman antics.
Speaking in June, DeChambeau acknowledged that his health was at risk. “Everybody talks about regrets, and I struggle with people having regrets in life because those regrets that you think you are going to regret are the things that made you the person you are today.
“If you regret them, you’re focussed emotionally on it rather than learn from it. I don’t regret much, and what I do know is that I learn from my mistakes, and that was a mistake.”
Rory McIlroy is another who has benefitted from bulking up. The Northern Irishman, the second-longest hitter on the PGA Tour, is now one of the game’s elite athletes and a far cry from the youngster who broke through 15 years ago.
Another physical specimen who was admired during his heyday is Dustin Johnson. The two-time major winner’s prowess was natural, allowing him to take down courses with ease.
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