Jon Rahm Rejected PGA Tour Player Of The Year Award
The vote that golfers respect most, the Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year award, was the source of the PGA Tour’s most recent hatred for the departure of Jon Rahm to LIV Golf.
With wins at the Augusta Masters, Sentry, American Express, and Los Angeles Open, Rahm’s record was better than any other in this season; yet, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler received the vote.
Among the five that also featured Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, and Rory McIlroy, the Texan garnered 38% of the vote.
Despite being the most consistent player of the season in terms of top 5 finishes (13) and top 10 finishes (17), Scheffler only took home victories at the Phoenix Open and the TPC.
Like Fred Couples (1991 and 1992), Nick Price (1993 and 94), and Tiger Woods (between 1999 and 2003 and between 2005 and 2007), it is his second trophy win in a row.
In contrast, Nico Echavarria, Vincent Norrman, Ludvig Aberg, and Eric Cole were all picked as the best rookies.
The vote by US golf journalists, many of whom were skeptical of the Saudi-led circuit and did acknowledge advantage of Jon Rahm on the 22/23 course, was more honest.
Steve Stricker was chosen as the best player on the Champions Tour, and Lilia Vu was the top player on the LPGA.
