Will Zalatoris Urges Tiger Woods To Get A Cart Exemption
The recent first-time PGA Tour winner wants to play a round with his golfing hero before he retires
Will Zalatoris wants Tiger Woods to use a cart so he can play more golf, increasing the chances he’ll get to fulfil a dream and play with the 15-time Major winner.
The 26-year-old, who saw his own season prematurely curtailed by injury having won his first PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Classic, told journalist Graham Bensinger on his ‘In Depth With Graham Bensinger’ show that it’s his ambition to play a round with Tiger before the all-time great retires from the game.
He said: “I would love to play with Tiger at least once before he’s done-done just to do it. And I know that that would be an amazing experience because even at the PGA like I played in front of him the first two days, we had more people with us because the people would come up to our group to follow us so they could get a better look when Tiger rolls through than when I was in the final group on Saturday.
“The part that amazes me is that he just has such a hard time walking but man he can still play some good golf. Tiger could get a cart if he wants to, but you know he’s never going to take it because that’s who he is. Selfishly, I’m like, dude, get in the cart, I’m going to play with you, I want to see you when you’re 50, you’ve proven people wrong countless times coming back from injuries and I'm like get in the damn cart!
“He’s just one of those guys that I never want to pry his space because I just have so much respect for how much he did even for me and he doesn’t know me. I was actually laughing at the PGA this year because he’s standing on the tee and he wasn’t playing with anybody, and I was going to play with another buddy and Tiger was standing on the tee and he said ‘Hey, do you guys wanna go’, I’m like, ‘You wanna come?’. I didn’t say it, I was like, ‘Okay yeah, Tiger tells me to go, I’m going, I got it’.
“It’s kinda fun because at the Open Championship, Tiger came by and smacked me on the backside and was like, ‘Hey, great playing Willy’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, that’s him, I know him!’"
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Jeff graduated from Leeds University in Business Studies and Media in 1996 and did a post grad in journalism at Sheffield College in 1997. His first jobs were on Slam Dunk (basketball) and Football Monthly magazines, and he's worked for the Sunday Times, Press Association and ESPN. He has faced golfing greats Sam Torrance and Sergio Garcia, but on the poker felt rather than the golf course. Jeff's favourite course played is Sandy Lane in Barbados, which went far better than when he played Matfen Hall in Northumberland, where he crashed the buggy on the way to the 1st tee!
-
Zozo Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
Some of the world's best players compete for an eye-catching prize money payout in the limited-field, no-cut event in Japan
By Mike Hall Published
-
Genesis Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
Tom Kim is one of the big names playing in his homeland as the last DP World Tour event before the season-closing Playoffs comes from South Korea
By Mike Hall Published
-
Tiger Woods Announces Latest Golf Course Design Project
Tiger Woods has revealed his latest golf course design project will be called Bluejack Ranch and be based just outside Fort Worth in Texas
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tiger Woods' Sun Day Red 'Reluctantly' Sues Company Over Logo-Infringement Claims
Sun Day Red has escalated its legal battle with cooling company Tigeraire after the latter filed a notice of objection with the UPTO
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Could Tiger Woods' Sun Day Red Gear Be Coming To The PGA Tour?
New PGA Tour player Karl Vilips was seen wearing a Calypso Coral Sun Day Red polo during the final day of the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Championship
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Tiger Woods' Sun Day Red Brand Faces Trademark Dispute Over Logo
Tiger Woods' Sun Day Red has been accused of copying another company's logo and is now involved in a trademark dispute
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tiger Woods' Presidents Cup Vs Ryder Cup Stats Show Some Jaw-Dropping Differences
There are remarkable stats that illustrate just how different Tiger Woods played in the Presidents Cup compared to the Ryder Cup
By Paul Higham Published
-
Tiger Woods Undergoes Sixth Back Surgery
The 15-time Major winner announced the news he's had back surgery to address spasms
By Mike Hall Published
-
Report: Tiger Woods Flies Into New York For PGA Tour/PIF Talks
Per ESPN, the 15-time Major winner is attending meetings with the PIF over the coming days alongside fellow PGA Tour policy board member Adam Scott and other representatives
By Mike Hall Published
-
Jim Furyk Has One More Presidents Cup Assistant Captain To Name - And It Could Be Tiger Woods
Team USA's assistant captains at the 2024 Presidents Cup may still not be settled with Woods of interest to Furyk and Keegan Bradley in line for a wildcard pick
By Jonny Leighfield Published