Former Wake Forest Golfer Will Zalatoris Voted PGA Rookie Of The Year

Former Wake Forest University men's golfer Will Zalatoris has been voted as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. 

Zalatoris was announced as the Arnold Palmer Award winner for the 2020-21 season on Monday. He is the first player in 20 years to receive the award without being a full PGA Tour member.

According to a Wake Forest news release, Zalatoris entered 25 events with eight top tens.  He secured his place as a major contender during the 85th Masters Tournament in April, finishing as a runner-up. That opened the door to a PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the season. 

After finishing 14th on the Korn Ferry Tour standings, Zalatoris entered the current season as a full-time member of the PGA Tour for the first time.

The 25-year-old from Dallas, Texas, won the award over the only other rookie on the ballot, South Africa's Garrick Higgo.

The Rookie of the Year Award was named after former Demon Deacon legend Arnold Palmer, who helped put the school's golf program on the map.