Will Zalatoris has quickly become a household name on the PGA Tour. The 25-year-old phenom finished runner-up at The Masters back in April, tied for sixth at the U.S. Open last September, and currently ranks No. 31 in the world.
But Zalatoris hasn't been fully rewarded for his accomplishments this season. Due to pandemic-related circumstances, Zalatoris doesn't have his PGA Tour card, which would grant him full status as a member. The Tour announced that cards wouldn't be issued or lost during the 2020-21 season, and as a result of this decision, Zalatoris is ineligible to participate in the FedExCup Playoffs.
"If you really think about it, the only reason why I'm not part of the FedExCup Playoffs is because of COVID," Zalatoris told The Zach Gelb Show on Monday. "Because I would've had my card coming off the Korn Ferry Tour -- I was No. 1 in the fall. So, it's a little frustrating, from that perspective. I didn't take any free handouts -- I went out and earned it... It's not like it was handed to me. So, yeah, I definitely felt like I should've been part of it.
"But the beauty of it is, I had a really good year. I learned a lot, technically going into what'll now be 'Year One 2.0.' But I've learned a lot, and I think it's going to be really good, going forward... At the end of the day, the bar was set. It is what it is, whether you agree with the rule or not. The rules are there for a reason, and you've got to abide by them."
Zalatoris last competed on Aug. 15, during the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. There, he finished tied for 29th with a final round 1-under 69. In 25 total tournaments this season, Zalatoris has earned eight top-10 finishes -- quite a rise for a golfer who was ranked as low as 543rd back in early 2020.
The PGA Tour's 2021-22 schedule begins on Sept. 16 in California, with the Fortinet Championship. At that time, Zalatoris will earn full Tour membership.
The entire golf conversation between Zalatoris and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.