Want to see the next Will Zalatoris? Who and what to watch in the Ascendant at TPC Colorado

The tournament isn't exactly new anymore, but the name is.

For the Korn Ferry Tour event's fourth edition at the Berthoud course, it is now known as The Ascendant at TPC Colorado.

And if this year's champion has the name recognition or pedigree of the last two, Colorado golf fans will be in for a treat this 4th of July weekend.

Tag Ridings (known amongst golf diehards for his 2000s stint on the PGA Tour) is the defending champ.

But it's the 2020 winner who has become a household name.

Since winning the 2020 TPC Colorado, Will Zalatoris has shot up the World Golf Rankings from No. 272 to 13th. He has six top 10s in major championships, including consecutive runner-up finishes recently at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.

During media day for The Ascendant, Ridings said there are "at least five guys" on the Korn Ferry Tour right now who are good enough to win major titles over the next five years.

As the tournament kicks off June 30 and runs through July 3, here's what fans should know, including players who could follow Zalatoris' path to competing on Sunday back nines for the highest honors in golf.

Players to Watch in The Ascendant at TPC Colorado

With 19 of the Korn Ferry Tour's top 20 players in the field, there could be plenty of future PGA Tour players to watch.

Here are a handful to keep an eye on:

Pierceson Coody

The 2022 NCAA men's individual champion from Texas is already a breakout star on the tour, tying the course record with a 62 and winning in Maine last week in just his third pro start.

Along with a fourth-place finish in Wichita, Coody is already tied for 31st for points on tour and rapidly gaining on the top 25, which earns KFT players a PGA Tour card at the end of the season.

Taylor Montgomery

At ninth in the KFT points race, Montgomery is already well-positioned to earn his PGA Tour card. And the Las Vegas native should be in prime contention this week with eight top 15 finishes in his last 10 starts and the third best putting average on tour, a necessity on TPC's treacherous greens.

Augusto Nunez

The Argentinian is perhaps the cleanest ball striker on tour and among the longer hitters, making him a consistent threat to win. Nunez is 16th in points this season and coming off consecutive top 6 finishes in his last two starts.

Tyson Alexander

The veteran golfer from Florida seems to love the Colorado air, as he co-led this tournament through three rounds last year and finished T-9 in 2020. At 10th on the points list, he's just a few points shy of the automatic threshold to reach the PGA Tour next year.

Nelson Ledesma

The inaugural champion of this event has already been to the PGA Tour and back after failing to hold onto his status last season.

Consider this a bet that the experience could help him if he makes it back. Plus, Ledesma already knows he can win on this course, and his game is in fine form with top 10s in his previous two events.

Tournament schedule, format

The tournament features four 18-hole rounds, one per day Thursday through Sunday. The field of 156 will be cut to the low 65 scores, including ties, for the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday.

The prize purse for the tournament is $750,000, with the winner earning $135,000.

Fan FAQs, what to know

Tickets can still be purchased for the event, with a single-day pass costing $20 and full-week passes going for $55.

There are several prohibited items, including lawn chairs, posters and signs, outside beverages, video cameras and pets.

Bags can be used on the grounds but must either be clear or smaller than 6-by-12-by-6.

Parking will be located at the TPC Colorado entrance off Grand Market Avenue and TPC Parkway. Tournament staff will direct you once you drive past the TPC Colorado Gatehouse.

The Ascendant at TPC Colorado field

Ledesma will be the only former champ to tee it up, with Ridings announcing his withdrawal Monday as he continues to recover from COVID-19.

However, there are still several participants with prominent Colorado ties. They include:

• Sam Saunders: r Fort Collins resident and grandson of golf legend Arnold Palmer

• Tom Whitney: Air Force graduate and former Fort Collins resident

• George Cunningham: Louisville (Colorado) native and grandson of Colorado Cup player Chuck Melvin

• Geoff Keffer: PGA assistant pro at Lakewood Country Club and seven-time Colorado PGA overall Player of the Year

• Zahkai Brown: Golden resident and former Colorado State University golfer

• George Markham: former Colorado School of Mines golfer

• Dan Erickson: family moved to Loveland four years ago

• Tyler McCumber: Lyons resident

• Taylor Montgomery: father Monte grew up in Grand Junction

• Jeremy Paul: former University of Colorado golfer

• Jake Staiano: Englewood and ex-Colorado State golfer

• Kyle Westmoreland: former Air Force Academy golfer

The TPC Colorado course

The TPC Colorado at Heron Lakes course opened in summer 2018 and is an 18-hole layout just northwest of Berthoud.

The course plays as a links style, with plenty of deep pot bunkers and picturesque holes lined by lakes and distant mountain views. The course was designed by Arthur Schaupeter and will play at 7,995 yards — breaking its own record as the longest ever on the Korn Ferry Tour.

How to watch, follow The Ascendant at TPC Colorado

An updated leaderboard will be available online throughout the tournament at PGAtour.com/korn-ferry-tour/leaderboard.html.

For the second straight year, there will also be livestreaming on the weekend and you can watch at PGA Tour Live and GolfChannel.com.

About the Korn Ferry Tour

The Korn Ferry Tour is just below the PGA Tour and one of the main paths professional golfers follow in hopes of reaching the PGA Tour.

At the end of this season, the top 25 Korn Ferry Tour players will receive their PGA Tour cards for the 2022-23 season.

Chris Abshire is the sports and stats content coach at the Coloradoan. Contact him at ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about Korn Ferry Tour event The Ascendant at TPC Colorado