2021 Masters: One Rocket Ride To The Moon, One Parachute-Free Base Jump
As usual, the Masters delivered, both with storylines we knew were coming, and the pleasant surprises that arrive throughout the week, like finding a twenty spot in your old jean jacket.
Entering from the last article, Will Zalatoris. In case you watched the Masters on mute; a quick recap:
- 2004th in the OWGR in early February 2019 (that’s not a typo, that two-thousand and fourth)
- currently has no status on the PGA Tour, relying on sponsor’s invites
- parlayed a great US Open finish at Winged Foot into a Masters invite
- nearly made Brandel Chamblee look like the genius he imagines himself to be
After his outstanding 2nd place finish, let us re-recap:
- he is currently ranked 27th in the OWGR (up 1,977 spots)
- $1.242M payday to soothe his chapped ass for the time being
- a year’s worth of memes, social media cache, and notoriety that money can’t buy
- still not a member of the PGA Tour
- unable to collect FedEx Cup points (where he would currently be 13th)
As meteoric as this charge up the world of golf is for Zalatoris, we would be remiss to not mention what happens when the opposite happens, like the yodeller on The Price is Right when contestants bumbling caused him to fall over the cliff.
Jimmy Walker was previously one of the PGA Tour’s “it” guys.
- 2016 PGA Championship winner
- 2014 Ryder Cup & 2015 President’s Cup
- top 10 on the money list from 2014-16, top 20 OWGR throughout this
- published astrophotographer
- and all-around good guy
After a serious issue with Lyme Disease that he contracted in 2017, Walker has not been the same:
- after a MC this past week, he resides at 536th in the OWGR
- finished 180th on last year’s money list, currently at 195th in 2021
His bout with Lyme Disease is perhaps the most consequential bug bite since a radioactive spider bit Peter Parker. Hopefully, he relocates his form and continues adding to his $25M in career earnings.
Regardless of what happens, it seems as though the proverbial torch has been passed to the next up and comer; professional golf is and always will be a meritocracy, bug bites be damned.
