Will Zalatoris fire 'best friend' Ryan Goble's caddy in the middle of the tournament

Will Zalatoris fires ‘best friend’ caddie Ryan Goble mid-tournament

Will Zalatoris felt it was time, not only for his golf career but his friendship with longtime caddie Ryan Goble.

[{"selector":"#anim-9d66efe6-a8fb-484c-828c-087e365449ba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.203849680485483%, 2.2351211646231266%) scale(1.4672897196261683)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

And so the 25-year golfer split with the only caddie he know on a sanctioned professional tour, someone who Zalatoris said “basically been my best friend for last three years.”

[{"selector":"#anim-77e45915-24dc-4213-8399-d8e0320fd5a8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(57.67428939325927%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

He made the move on Friday during the Wyndham Championship and hired Josh Gregory as his fill-in caddie for the rest of the tournament.

[{"selector":"#anim-320ab4be-7d81-426e-858c-4d53a5a020e8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(57.43999460370489%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

“We’ve kind of had a rough month together, and it was starting to affect our relationship,” he said

[{"selector":"#anim-14ba5587-88ab-498c-9f24-a9c686ed695e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(37.44939118717694%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

During the partnership with Goble, Zalatoris had eight top-10 finishes and earned over $6.6 million this season.

[{"selector":"#anim-86c87697-33c1-43fa-ad23-7f0a65305c11 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-51.48133085862785%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

“It was time for a change,” Gregory said. “And honestly, it’s what’s best for both of them.

[{"selector":"#anim-d02d5d1d-efc8-4380-bb7e-786fd20456e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.28404390432949%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The change was coming anyway, and it was time to go ahead and rip the Band-Aid off.” Gregory’s goal was to get Zalatoris to relax and enjoy himself.

[{"selector":"#anim-9321cb3d-ce73-4146-a986-cfcbfeba0934 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(50.504839478843124%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]