Dismissals within golf are not uncommon, as individuals look for any possible way to improve their playing. Whether it’s a new coach or a new coach, players will look for ways to find the extra 1%.
Will Zalatoris is a future star in the game, with the 25-year-old achieving impressive results in Major and PGA Tour events. However, on Friday evening, Zalatoris broke up with longtime caddy, Ryan Goble, saying it was “the hardest decision he’s ever had to make.”
Zalatores and Gobel in the 150th Open
(Image source: Getty Images)
“Ryan is a brother for life,” Zalatores said. “We’ve had a tough month together and it’s starting to affect our relationship. I know guys say that when they break up, but it really was. We were guys that liked to have dinner together and hang out and it just started – what was going on in your period was starting to bleed from your period and that’s not what you want.”
“He’s an incredible friend, I love him to death and told him I have to do what’s best for me. Like I said, he’s just such an amazing friend. You know, you can obviously tell how hard this decision was for me, especially the timing of it, but I think it’s become A little unhealthy for both of us and it was – obviously painful.
“But from now on, I’m going to get Joel Stock in the bag during qualifying and he’s pretty much going forward from there. But as I mentioned about Josh, it was great reading lies apart from the rough. I give him credit for the holeshot at 11 and he kept me in the round today. Especially after a rather difficult start.”
Zalatoris and Josh Gregory during the third round of the Wyndham Championship
(Image source: Getty Images)
The pair had been together for three years, with Goble on the bag for Zalatoris throughout the early years of the Korn Ferry Tour. After making his American Championship debut in July 2019, Goble helped his boss earn the Rookie of the Year awards at the PGA Tour in 2020-21, with Zalatoris securing multiple top five spots in the major tournaments.
Apparently the two were close to two holes Friday to make the cut, with Zalatoris revealing they hugged her after the conversation: “He’s basically been my best friend for the past three years. He’s been the only caddy I’ve had on any tour, on the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. And so, like I said, it’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my golf career and I’ve had to do what I think is best going forward. Like I said, nothing is permanent and we’ll kind of see how it all goes from here.”