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)