Korn Ferry Tour overview
With TOUR-sanctioned golf halted for nearly three months due to COVID-19, eligibility criteria on the Korn Ferry Tour was restructured. All 2019-20 TOUR members maintain status through 2020-21, and the 2020 Tour’s season extends through 2021 (all members maintaining status). Consequently, no 2020 Korn Ferry Tour pros earned 2020-21 PGA TOUR status. (The top10 on the Points List after the Korn Ferry Tour Championship earned starts in 2020-21 TOUR additional events). The wait might not be optimal for those atop The 25, but it will make eventual TOUR status all the sweeter.
rising sTars Each year, an eclectic mix of rising young stars and seasoned veterans assert themselves at the top of Korn Ferry Tour leaderboards, and 2020 proved no exception. Wake Forest alum Will Zalatoris stands atop The 25, a testament to a well-rounded game and consistent play throughout the summer. The Dallas-area resident via San Francisco 42
PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021
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A red-hot run by 24-year-old Will Zalatoris included 11 consecutive top-20 finishes, the highlight being a victory at the TPC Colorado Championship in July.
“Will Zalatoris stands atop The 25, a testament to a well-rounded game and consistent play.”
caught the Korn Ferry Tour by storm in the Return to Golf, recording 11 consecutive top-20 finishes, including a victory at the TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes in July. Zalatoris, 24, earned a U.S. Open berth via a top-five position on the Points List through the WinCo Foods Portland Open. He finished T6, then added three more top-20s to earn PGA TOUR Special Temporary Membership, which allows him to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions through the 2020-21 TOUR season. Zalatoris and Riley are joined in the top-five by Taylor Pendrith (No. 2), Brandon Wu (No. 4) and Wolfe. All five aim to earn their first TOUR card upon the conclusion of the Regular Season. Veterans seeking a TOUR return via the 202021 Korn Ferry Tour include Stephan Jaeger (No. 8), Ben Kohles (No. 13), Brett Drewitt (No. 18), Seth Reeves (No. 19) and John Chin (No. 20).
Perseverance As players chase TOUR cards through the second half of the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour season, peaks and valleys will occur. There’s power in perseverance, though. Just ask Wolfe.
images: Pga TOUR
Tour resTrucTuring
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04/01/2021 10:53