The POY candidates
The PGA Tour unveiled its Player of the Year ballot on Monday and the candidates are Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar. Here’s a breakdown of their accomplishments in the 2013 season:
Matt Kuchar
- Entered 23 events and won two times: World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance.
- Finished sixth in the FedExCup.
- Finished third on official money list ($5,616,808).
- Recorded a total of eight top-10 finishes.
Phil Mickelson
- Entered 21 events and won two times: Waste Management Phoenix Open and The Open Championship.
- Finished ninth in the FedExCup.
- Recorded a total of seven top-10 finishes.
- Finished fourth on official money list ($5,495,793).
Adam Scott
- Entered 16 events and won two times: Masters Tournament and The Barclays.
- Finished fourth in the FedExCup.
- Recorded a total of six top-10 finishes.
- Finished sixth on official money list ($4,892,611).
Henrik Stenson
- Entered 18 events and won two FedExCup Playoffs events: Deutsche Bank Championship and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.
- With his wire-to-wire victory at the TOUR Championship, won the FedExCup.
- Recorded a total of eight top-10 finishes.
- Finished second on official money list ($6,388,230).
Tiger Woods
- Entered 16 events and won five times: Farmers Insurance Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, THE PLAYERS Championship and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.
- Finished second in the FedExCup.
- Winner of the Arnold Palmer Award as the TOUR’s leading official money winner ($8,553,439).
- Recorded a total of eight top-10 finishes.
*****
Tiger is going to win, so I don’t know why I’m going to even suggest a discussion. His Players Championship title puts him over the edge, *but* I don’t think you can count out Adam Scott or Phil Mickelson, or even Henrik Stenson.
Personally, I think a major win is worth roughly the equivalent of 4-5 regular season victories. The only one of Tiger’s wins that stands out to me is the Players, which is why it’s going to be a no-contest.
However, even Tiger’s buddy Steve Stricker said yesterday that he thinks it’s a toss-up between Tiger and Stenson.
“You know, I would think about Henrik,” said Stricker. “I would think it would be up between him and Tiger probably. Henrik’s had an amazing year…it’s a tossup probably. That’s what I’m sticking to.”
I know the players don’t get extra points for style, but Adam’s and Phil’s respective major wins were pretty darn thrilling that I can’t help but factor them in. But, if we’re going straight-up “PGA Tour Player of the Year,” then I agree with Stricker and it’s between Woods and Stenson.
Forget keeping it confined to just the PGA Tour — Who’s your Player of the Year overall? That’s a tough one I’ll have to think about, too. Good thing I have plenty of time on the plane from Atlanta to NYC to ponder it.
*****
The nominees for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year are Derek Ernst, Russell Henley, David Lingmerth and Jordan Spieth.
Derek Ernst
- Entered 21 events and won the Wells Fargo Championship.
- Finished 93rd in the FedExCup.
- Finished 66th on official money list ($1,330,856).
Russell Henley
- Entered 24 events and won the Sony Open in Hawaii in first start as a PGA TOUR member.
- Finished 44th in the FedExCup.
- Finished 33rd on official money list ($2,008,026).
- Recorded a total of three top-10 finishes.
David Lingmerth
- Entered 23 events and recorded two runner-up finishes, including a playoff loss at the Humana Challenge and a tied for second at THE PLAYERS Championship.
- Finished 75th in the FedExCup.
- Finished 46th on official money list ($1,748,109).
- Recorded a total of three top-10 finishes.
Jordan Spieth
- Started 2013 with no PGA TOUR status; entered 23 events and won the John Deere Classic.
- At 19 years, 11 months and 18 days, youngest player to win on the PGA TOUR since 1931.
- Finished seventh in the FedExCup; lone rookie to qualify for the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and youngest player in TOUR Championship history at 20 years, 1 month, 26 days.
- Finished 10th on official money list ($3,879,820).
- Recorded a total of nine top-10 finishes, tied for most top 10s on TOUR in 2013.
- Captain’s Pick for 2013 U.S. Presidents Cup team.
*****
Hand Spieth the trophy!
Who gets your Player of the Year vote?
(Photo via PGA Tour.com)
