x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Why Will Zalatoris’ miracle rock-shot surprised TPC Southwind’s designer
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
      • Emergency 9
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • Emergency 9
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
Tournaments

Why Will Zalatoris’ miracle rock-shot surprised TPC Southwind’s designer

By: Jack Hirsh
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
August 15, 2022
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Will Zalatoris looks at his golf ball nestled between a stone wall and the turf.

Will Zalatoris examining his unlikely lie on TPC Southwind's 11th hole.

Getty Images

Ron Prichard was glued to the FedEx St. Jude Championship playoff between Will Zalatoris and Sepp Straka at TPC Southwind Sunday evening.

He had a couple of good reasons for tuning in.

For one, the action was riveting, with Zalatoris and Straka trading blows over three thrilling holes of sudden death. For another, Prichard designed TPC Southwind, which opened for play back in 1988.

During the commercial before the third playoff hole — the watery par-3 11th — Prichard stepped away from the TV in his Philadelphia-area home. When he returned, he’d missed a few moments of the broadcast.

News
Will Zalatoris
Tour Confidential: PGA Tour-LIV court battle, Will Zalatoris’ breakthrough
By: GOLF Editors

“I came back in and what I did see was Straka’s ball go in the water,” Prichard told GOLF.com. “And when I saw his ball go in the water, I saw what I thought was a ball wedged in a little crease between the sod and the stone wall.”

Prichard’s eyes had not deceived him. Before Straka had rinsed his tee shot, Zalatoris had almost dunked his own tee ball.

Almost.

Zalatoris’ ball had come up short, just as Straka’s had, but it bounced several times on the stone wall guarding the front of the 11th green before nestling in a rut that separates the rough from the edge of the wall. “A minor miracle,” NBC analyst Paul Azinger said on the telecast.

“A couple of seconds later, they showed Zalatoris’ shot,” Prichard said. “I was shocked.”

HOW?! pic.twitter.com/8o94eaSXH4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 14, 2022

Prichard was stunned not only because the ball had settled next to the wall but also because there was a wall there at all.

When the course opened for play, Prichard said, there were no walls by the water hazards — just turf that ran directly into the water a la what you see at Augusta National.

“I’ve always felt from a settings standpoint, and then obviously from a playing standpoint, that should not be a situation where a ball comes down and lands on top of a stone wall and bounces anywhere,” Prichard said.

The course added walls to several of its lakes in 2019, TPC Southwind superintendent Nick Bisanz told GOLF.com. The 11th hole was in particular need of a wall, he said, because the steep bank was beginning to collapse.

“We’ve never considered covering [the walls] with turf,” Bisanz said.

He added that Prichard’s preference to cover the walls isn’t necessarily wrong — it’s just Bisanz’s architectural preference to leave them exposed.

Bisanz also said that even a wall capped with turf could still lead to unpredictable bounces.

As for the result of Zalatoris’ tee ball? Bisanz said he was as surprised as everyone watching at home.

“I don’t see how his ball found that crevice,” he said. “That was a very unique little spot… I’ve never seen it before.”

In the end, Zalatoris’ potential break was moot, given he determined he couldn’t play his next shot from the wall. He took a drop and and still got up and down, which was good enough to beat Straka and claim his first PGA Tour title.

Still, the episode provided for some excellent theater, especially for the guy who designed the course.

Latest In News

3 hours ago

J.J. Spaun's place in Oakmont's U.S. Open lore is different than you think

3 hours ago

Rory McIlroy's post-Masters plight? Lydia Ko understands the existential search

6 hours ago

4 moments from J.J. Spaun's U.S. Open win you might have missed

1 day ago

10 things I'll miss from the U.S. Open (and 3 I won't) | Monday Finish

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama and Brooks Koepka (clockwise from top left) were among the golfers with busy weeks.

Spieth's scary crossroads, Scottie's 'silly' comments, 3 stars return | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
Gear
hideki matsuyama putter

Winner's bag: Hideki Matsuyama's gear at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship

By: Jonathan Wall
News
xander schauffele at the fedex cup playoffs

Tour Confidential: A FedEx Cup Playoffs fix, a new U.S. Amateur champ and more

By: GOLF Editors
News
Tom Kim grabs his cap during the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Tom Kim's season comes to brutal end with stunning ejection

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Hideki Matsuyama waves to the crowd in Memphis.

Hideki Matsuyama survives late collapse, rules controversy, wins first FedEx Cup playoff event

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Hideki Matsuyama plays a shot at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship money: Here’s how much every player made 

By: Jack Hirsh
News
jordan spieth walks with a towel over his shoulder in a green hat

Jordan Spieth to undergo surgery 'ASAP' for troubling wrist injury

By: James Colgan
News
hideki matsuyama stares at the camera in blue and white shirt at fedex st jude invitational

2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship Purse: Payout info, winner's share in Memphis

By: James Colgan
News
2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship pin flag pictured on green at TPC Southwind.

2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship Sunday TV, streaming: How to watch Round 4

By: Kevin Cunningham
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version