Christmas gifts for most of us are modest. A card with a pack of golf balls from our generous friend or cousin. But for A-listers like Will Zalatoris it’s something more special. Say, an invitation for a 72-hole round at a certain Georgia club. It’s a tradition unlike any other and the Augusta National has kept up with it. Inviting players via a card that reaches them around Christmas. Will Zalatoris just got his. 

It won’t be wrong to say that the one-time PGA Tour winner is still in the recovery phase. Zalatoris underwent back surgery last year, which sidelined him for almost a year. 2024 has been a season of changes for the 28-year-old Dallas native. He made a splash at the start, netting two quick top-fives in the Genesis Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. But since then, his form has hit the skids. 

Willy Z has been out of the top ten since April. He had to withdraw from the Byron Nelson because of a back injury. But in early April, the one-time PGA Tour winner bagged a T9 at the Masters. Hence, his place in next year’s edition is secure. The letter from Augusta National, essentially a letter for RSVP, reached his home amid festive cheers. 

Zalatoris shared the picture on his Instagram story just hours ago. The Masters is a tradition unlike any other, and so is the letter signed by Augusta National chairman. The players, generally, send a letter back accepting the invitation. Needless to say, it’s always special for players. And for Will Zalatoris it’s a story of mutual affection. 

Will Zalatoris love to tee off at the ANGC

The 2025 iteration will be his fourth appearance at the Georgia layout. Fortunately, his love for the par-72 Bobby Jones-designed layout has been well reciprocated by the Georgia pitch. Will Zalatoris has yet to finish outside the top ten in the season’s first major. In his debut, the 28-year-old netted a solo runner-up finish. A year, later he bagged a T6, and this year a T9. In fact, Zalatoris tried to push through the pain at last year’s Masters as well. 

However, he had to call it quits and later underwent a microdiscectomy on two herniated discs on his back. Making a return this year, the 2022 FedEx St. Jude champion revealed he underwent slight swing changes to take pressure off the back. “I used to play the ball a little bit back in my stance a bunch, and now I’m playing it forward. It helps me be a bit more horizontal as opposed to so vertical, which puts a bunch of issues obviously on my back.”

Notably, Zalatoris has also bulked up. Recently, the Dallas native explained he had packed on 15 pounds of muscle. “I absolutely busted my tail trying to get my speed back and really get better with the broomstick,” said the 28-year-old. Will Zalatoris is listed in The Sentry field.