The PGA Tour announced the election of Will Zalatoris as the US Tour’s 2021 Newbie of the Year on Monday, based on player votes (only players who played 15 official FedExCup events in the 2020-21 season were eligible. to vote).
Zalatoris, 25 years old and current 31st in the world, will receive the Arnold Palmer Prize, after having beaten the South African Garrick Higgo in the vote.
« My congratulations to Will Zalatoris for being elected rookie of the year 2021 by the members of the PGA Tour », said Jay Monahan, commissioner of the American circuit. ” Will’s success, despite not having PGA Tour membership at the start of the 2020-21 season, is a testament not only to his abilities, but also to his hard work and attitude. »
Zalatoris joined the PGA Tour as a special temporary member in November and collected 1,296 non-member FedExCup points, to earn a full-time membership for the 2021-22 season. He recorded eight top 10s and made 21 cuts in 25 starts, with an explosive second place in the Masters.
2001
The last special temporary member to win the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award was Charles Howell III in 2001.
Zalatoris also took part in 16 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and recorded 10 top 10s, highlighted by a victory at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes and a second place finish at the Evans Scholars Invitational. He secured a spot at the 2020 US Open after changes to the tournament’s eligibility criteria and finished tied for 6th place, in what was his first start of the PGA Tour season.
After the US Open, Zalatoris finished in the top 10 in two of his next three starts (T8 / Corales Puntacana Championship, T5 / Shriners Children’s Open) and crossed the threshold for special temporary membership with another result in the top 25 at the Bermuda Championship.
Throughout the 2021 season, Zalatoris has competed in the Players Championship, four major championships and three world golf championships, with top 10s in three of those eight appearances. His season’s best result came at the 2021 Masters Tournament, where he finished runner-up and was the only player in the field to record four under-par scores.
672
Will Zalatoris was 672nd player in the world at the end of 2019 and still 143rd a year ago. He is now 31st in the world golf ranking.
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