A Pretty Good U.S. Amateur Story

The current men’s U.S. Amateur in So Cal has had its share of weird stories including one DQ when a player forgot to sign his scorecard and another DQ after a caddie used his rangfinder’s slope feature on multiple holes. 

But there are some good stories to check out. One involves a local Dallas golfer and a helpful mentor/caddie. Thanks to Craig Rosengarden for the story tip.

Three years ago, Scott Fawcett was preparing to compete in the 2014 Texas State Amateur when a cortisone shot he received in his right elbow essentially paralyzed his arm, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.

So Fawcett called up a 17-year-old local junior named Will Zalatoris from his home club, Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas, and offered to caddie for Zalatoris in the event. 

Fast forward to Wednesday at Riviera Country Club and there Zalatoris was, competing in match play at the U.S. Amateur for the fourth year in a row. And there Fawcett was, on the bag, as Zalatoris took on another U.S. Junior champ, Philip Barbaree (2015), in the Round of 64 – and won on the 18th hole by sinking a 35-footer for birdie to advance, 1 up.

Fawcett, 44, has been doing as much for quite some time now, ever since a 9-year-old Zalatoris showed up next to him on the range one day at Bent Tree.

“I was just an annoying 9-year-old,” Zalatoris said. “I wanted to be around good players. I didn’t know any better. I just walked up to him and started hitting balls next to him. He was nice enough to just kind of deal with me.”

When Zalatoris missed the cut in his first ever U.S. Junior start at 12 years old, Fawcett, who was playing on the Web.com Tour at the time, was the first person to text him. Through the years, Fawcett has continued to mentor Zalatoris while also caddying for him in big events (he was on the bag when Zalatoris won the 2016 Northern Trust Collegiate Showcase at Riviera; the win earned Zalatoris a spot in the Tour event) and balancing his ever-growing work with DECADE.

“His golf swing right now is the same golf swing he’s had since he was 9,” Fawcett said.

It’s just everything else that has evolved with Fawcett’s influence as both a father- and brother-like figure.

“I probably give him more of a hard time than a father would or should,” Fawcett said.

Unfortunately, the Zalatoris/Fawcett duo lost to Aussie Travis Smyth 2 and 1 in the Round of 16 matches yesterday.