PGA Tour Inc.

03/07/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/08/2021 06:35

2020-21 Rookie Watch

Enough about Rookie of the Year. Will Zalatoris very well might wind up as part of the conversation for Player of the Year as well.

With his slice of an eight-way tie for 10th place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Zalatoris recorded his fifth top 10 of the season. That shares the PGA TOUR lead with Harris English, Tony Finau, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, and only English has a victory (Sentry Tournament of Champions).

Then again, and at the minimum, it'd require a breakthrough title for Zalatoris to generate sincere consideration. Bryson DeChambeau prevailed at Bay Hill to become this season's first multiple winner, and, of course, his first win was at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

A first-time winner at THE PLAYERS Championship isn't unprecedented, but it's been 11 years since Tim Clark was the last to connect. Zalatoris will give it a go in his debut and what will be his seventh consecutive start since the Farmers Insurance Open.

Victor Perez and Robert MacIntyre also will be competing at TPC Sawgrass. After opening the API with a 3-under 69, Perez drifted all the way back to finish T68. Meanwhile, MacIntyre placed T36 in what was his third start of the 2020-21 season. With the equivalent of 19.267 FedExCup points at Bay Hill contributing to his non-member total, the lefty has been added to the table below. Both Europeans are on pace to exhaust their rookie eligibility this season.

Rafael Campos (only true 2020-21 PGA TOUR rookie)
Starts = 9Cuts Made = 2FedExCup Points = 98.757FedExCup Rank = 152Last Start = T3 (Puerto Rico Open)

# - In the field at THE PLAYERS Championship as of March 7.

^ - The value beside Will Zalatoris reflects where he would rank among members with his total of equivalent FedExCup points. If he's inside the top 125 at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, he'll earn PGA TOUR membership in 2021-22. He can become a member this season with a victory on the PGA TOUR or with two more wins on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Non-members: Through the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard