Why Did Will Zalatoris Withdraw From The Open Championship 2021?

The 149th Open Championship is currently underway at the Royal St. George’s. The final major of the year is promising to be an exceptional event. But unfortunately, Will Zalatoris has withdrawn from the 2021 Open Championship just before his Round 2 tee time. 

Zalatoris was in contention after round one as he scored a one-under 69. However, it was visible that there was something wrong with Zalatoris in the last few holes. And it was evident on the screen that he was uncomfortable out there. 

Will Zalatoris shared a post to announce his withdrawal

The 24-year-old American shared a story on Instagram and announced his withdrawal from the 2021 Open Championship. He opted out of the tournament due to an injury to his back and left leg. 

“I am beyond disappointed to pull out of the Open Championship this week,” Zalatoris said. “The second shot out of the heavy rough on No. 15 yesterday sent a tingling down my left leg, and I have been advised to not risk any further damage to my back. I contemplated not finishing the round yesterday but considering this is my first Open. And I felt like I needed to finish the round (even if it meant embarrassing myself a little at the end ha!)”

“I tried to hit some balls this morning and did some extra work in the gym with no improvement. And I am completely gutted to not be moving forward in the championship. I look forward to coming back as soon as I can…thank you for the support,” Zalatoris added. 

Zalatoris injured himself while trying to get out of the hay on the 15th hole. Will used all his strength to get out of the hay, but soon after the shot, he appeared to be in discomfort.

The 30th in official rankings, Will Zalatoris has enjoyed a strong run at the majors. He finished runner-up at the 2021 Masters, T8 at the PGA Championship, and sixth in the 2020 U.S. Open. 

Read More – The Open Championship 2021 Cut Line: How Many Players Will Qualify for the Weekend?