2021 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Will Zalatoris may be one of the hottest prospects in the golfing world, but he holds nothing but the utmost respect for 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, pleading with him to ‘get in the damn cart’ if it means a chance of playing with him.

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In part of an in-depth interview with Graham Bensinger, the world number 7, and seven time major top-10 finisher, cannot stop eulogising over his golfing idol, even saying it amazed him that Tiger even knows who he was.

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Debating the greatest player, the 2022 FedEx St. Jude champion says that Tiger changed the game, so much so that it is hardly recognizable from a few years ago.

Zalatoris explains, “15 years ago, not everyone had trainers, sports psychologists, most people had, just like, one coach,” yet nowadays player’s can just about find room on the on-site training coach, such is the necessity to be super-fit.

“Tiger’s built like a tight end,” said the 26-year-old. “He is..like..enormous. body is like….his upper body, he is like, just a massive human.”

Asked whether he could see the day when he might play with the GOAT, Zalatoris can’t hide his enthusiasm.

“I would love to play with Tiger at least once, before he is done-done. Just to do it would be an amazing experience,” he says, smiling throughout.

Even past his best, Tiger is still seen as the golfer that changed golf.

“He [Tiger] is the needle, he doesn’t move it. Ive seen him. I mean, I’m playing and I’m like’ Oh my gosh!’ It’s insane!”

Zalatoris is clearly a fan, noticing first hand just how popular Tiger remains. “At the PGA, I played in front of him for two days,” he tells Bensinger. “We had more people following us so they could get a better view when Tiger rolls through!”

The host then asks, “Whats the likelihood you get to play with him?”

“Thats up to him,” Zalatoris replies.

” The part that amazes me is that he has such a hard time walking and he can still play some good golf. Tiger can get a cart if he wants to, but you know he’s never gonna take it, because that’s who he is. And I’m selfishly like ‘Get in the cart. I wanna play with you!’

He tells Tiger,

“You’ve proven people wrong countless times, getting back from injuries, and I’m like, Get in the damn cart!”

 

Sadly, Will doesn’t have his direct number and can’t text him to arrange a round, though admits close friend Tony Romo probably does.

“I never want to pry his space cos I have so much respect for what he did, even for me and he doesn’t even know me.” says a modest Zalatoris.

“I was laughing at the PGA this year, cos he was standing on the tee and he wasn’t even playing with anybody, and I was going to play with another buddy, and he says ‘Hey, do you wanna go?’ and I’m like ‘you wanna come?’ ”

Zalatoris admits, “I didn’t say it, but like Tiger says, you go, okay I’m going.”

He regrets not asking, saying his buddy bizarrely turned Tiger down.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I said. I mean, “I respect you trying to stay with me, but the feeling’s not mutual!”

He recalls getting close to his hero at St. Andrews when Tiger came over, slapped him on his behind and said, “Great play, Willy’ and I’m like, “Ooh, that’s him, I know him!”

Ascending #PGA star @WillZalatoris urges Tiger Woods to apply for a cart exemption… so that he could one day play in a pairing with golf’s GOAT. Much more from Zalatoris tonight after Big Game Sunday on In Depth with @GrahamBensinger. pic.twitter.com/8d9qmICxDd

— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) October 24, 2022

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