What happened to Will Zalatoris? Why did he withdraw from Masters?
by Rajalaxmi | Updated Apr 07, 2023
Will Zalatoris
William Patrick Zalatoris is a rising star in the world of professional golf. Born on August 16, 1996, in San Francisco, California, he quickly made a name for himself on the PGA Tour.
Zalatoris first burst onto the scene in 2020, when he earned a special temporary membership on the PGA Tour after a strong showing on the Korn Ferry Tour. He made the most of his opportunity, finishing in the top 10 in his first three PGA Tour starts.
In 2021, Zalatoris continued his impressive play, earning a runner-up finish at the Master's Tournament in his debut appearance. He followed that up with another runner-up finish at the PGA Championship, where he was just one shot behind the winner, Phil Mickelson.
Zalatoris' breakthrough moment came in 2022 when he won his first PGA Tour event at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He held off a talented field to claim the title, cementing his status as one of the game's rising stars.
Despite his young age and relatively short time on the PGA Tour, Zalatoris has already made a name for himself as a consistent performer in major championships. In addition to his runner-up finishes at the Masters and PGA Championship, he also finished second at the 2021 U.S. Open.
Zalatoris' success on the course is due in part to his impressive all-around game. He is a strong ball striker and has a deft touch around the greens. He also possesses a calm demeanor and a mature approach to the game that belies his age.
Off the course, Zalatoris is known for his quirky personality and distinctive fashion sense. He is often seen sporting colorful shirts and pants and has even worn a pair of Happy Gilmore-inspired golf shoes.
What happened to Will Zalatoris?
Another blow has hit the Masters golf tournament as Will Zalatoris becomes the second player to withdraw from the event on Thursday. Kevin Na had earlier pulled out due to illness, while Zalatoris cited an injury as the reason for his withdrawal. The news was confirmed by an official Masters release.
Zalatoris, a PGA Tour player with one victory under his belt, has been struggling with a back injury since the 2022 BMW Championship. Last fall, he took a four-month break from competition to heal from two herniated discs in his back. While it is unclear whether his back injury was the reason for his withdrawal from the Masters, it is known that it has been an ongoing issue for him.
Earlier this week, Zalatoris had spoken about his injury, saying that he has made significant progress. He attributed the issue to limited mobility in his right ankle, and it seems that this may have been a factor in his withdrawal.
Zalatoris had also withdrawn from the Dell Match Play at the end of last month due to illness. He revealed that he had lost seven pounds in a week because of it. The golfer has been one to watch in recent years, and his withdrawal is sure to disappoint fans who were hoping to see him compete in the Masters.
Why did Zalatoris withdraw from Master?
In a disappointing turn of events, Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the Masters due to injury, just moments before his scheduled tee time at 1:24 p.m. ET on Thursday at Augusta National. This comes as a major blow to the young golfer who was considered to be a serious contender for the green jacket this year.
Zalatoris had a strong start to the season, making six cuts in seven starts after returning from a four-month injury hiatus at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. However, his past injury troubles came back to haunt him, as he suffered from two herniated disks in his back that forced him to withdraw mid-event from the BMW Championship in August. He subsequently did not compete at the TOUR Championship.
The 26-year-old was scheduled to play alongside Matthew Fitzpatrick and Collin Morikawa on Thursday before his withdrawal. Zalatoris has had some impressive performances in major championships, finishing runner-up at last year's PGA Championship and U.S. Open. He also placed second in his first Masters appearance in 2021 and finished T6 at Augusta National last year.
In another unfortunate development, Kevin Na also withdrew after playing nine holes on Thursday due to illness. These unexpected withdrawals have been a setback for both golfers, but fans will be hoping for their speedy recovery and return to the sport.
Will Zalatoris net worth
Will Zalatori's networth is $5 million USD. William Zalatoris is a rising star in the world of professional golf. The 25-year-old American golfer has been making waves in the sport since his impressive performance at the 2021 Masters Tournament. Zalatoris finished second in the tournament with a score of 9-under-par, just one stroke behind the champion Hideki Matsuyama, who became the first male Japanese player to win a major championship.
Zalatoris' performance at the Master's Tournament earned him the title of PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2020-2021 season, a well-deserved recognition for his remarkable debut year in professional golf.
In October 2021, Zalatoris achieved a career milestone by shooting his lowest round on the PGA Tour, a score of 61, at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.
In January 2022, Zalatoris was in contention to win the Farmers Insurance Open, tying for the lead after 72 holes. However, he lost in a sudden-death playoff to Luke List, who hit an approach shot to within a foot of the first playoff hole and made birdie.
Zalatoris continued to perform strongly throughout the year, finishing second in two major championships. In May 2022, he lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff at the PGA Championship held at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A month later, Zalatoris finished tied with Scottie Scheffler at the U.S. Open, behind the winner Matt Fitzpatrick at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
However, Zalatoris' breakthrough victory came on August 14, 2022, when he won his first PGA Tour event at the FedEx St. Jude Championship held at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Zalatoris defeated Sepp Straka on the third playoff hole to secure his maiden PGA Tour title. With this win, Zalatoris moved to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, overtaking Scottie Scheffler.
What happened to Will Zalatoris -FAQs
William Patrick Zalatoris was born on August 16, 1996.
Zalatoris was born in San Francisco, California, but grew up in Dallas, Texas.
Zalatoris is a professional golfer who primarily competes on the PGA Tour. He has one PGA Tour win to his name and has earned several top finishes in major championships.
Zalatoris' best performance in a major championship came at the 2021 Masters Tournament, where he finished in second place.
Off the course, Zalatoris is known for his quirky personality and unique fashion sense. He has a fun-loving attitude and is very engaging with fans and the media.