During the pandemic, Bryson DeChambeau reportedly took in 6,000 calories Every day, I ate four eggs for breakfast and drank six protein shakes. He wanted to gain muscle and was testing his limits through complex training plans. DeChambeau was hoping to get stronger, which would generate more swing speed and, as a result, longer drives.
DeChambeau gained 50 pounds of muscle and emerged from his quarantine doldrums looking more like an NFL starting linebacker than a PGA Tour player. His unconventional training habits ultimately paid off, as he won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in September of that year. He later said he regretted this extreme schedule because he lost so much weight in the years that followed. However, he can still hit the ball a mile, proving that adding muscle worked wonders.
Will Zalatoris hopes to accomplish the same thing.
Ahead of this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, Zalatoris revealed he gained 15 pounds of muscle during the off-season. Although not quite at DeChambeau's level, the same belief applies. He consumes 4,500 calories and 200 grams of protein each day, choosing to work on his eating and training schedule instead of playing.
Golf fans have always associated Zalatoris with a long, lanky player, and have even compared him to players such as: happy gilmore caddy for similar functionality. But Zalatoris, like DeChambeau before him and as many other top players continue to do today, will bulk up during the offseason and expect the dividends to pay in 2025. I hope that it will be done.
“I probably worked the hardest I've ever worked,” Zalatoris admitted.
“I completely broke my tail trying to get my speed back. I've gotten really good at using the broom, which is great. I haven't played much, but that was intentional.”
A year ago, Zalatoris returned to competitive action at the Hero World Challenge after an extended injury break. Just minutes before the first round at the 2023 Masters, he felt something pop in his back, and 48 hours later he was sitting in a hospital bed awaiting surgery. Eight months of rehabilitation followed, with Zalatoris focusing on recovery rather than strength training.
This helps explain why his past offseasons were different.
“If you think about it, I haven't really had an offseason since 2019,” Zalatoris said.
“I was doing wraparounds before and then rehabbing my lower back for two seasons, so it’s kind of nice to have a year where I’m actually making progress and not just rehabbing.”
Zalatoris is off to a great start to the 2024 golf season, finishing in the top five at Riveria and Bay Hill. He then tied for ninth at Augusta National, an impressive comeback considering what happened to him there the year before. However, his strong play at the Masters marked his final top-10 finish of the season. He didn't record a solid finish until he tied for 12th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August.
But now he is in South Africa for the first time, feeling stronger and fitter and ready to take on the 2025 season. Perhaps his improved strength could lead to a victory or, as in DeChambeau's case, a major.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
