In 17 events this year, Rory McIlroy finished with three wins, 12 top-10 finishes and over $8 million in earnings. Two of those victories came at the British Open and PGA Championship and he also helped Europe earn their third straight Ryder Cup title. He was voted the PGA Tour Player of the Year on Wednesday.
McIlroy was awarded the Vardon Trophy earlier this season, which earned him honors for the PGA of America Player of the Year. That award is determined through a points system that incorporates wins, money earnings and scoring average for the entire season. But the Jack Nicklaus Award is given to the PGA Tour Player of the Year and the winner is chosen through a vote of PGA Tour members who participated in at least 15 events last season.
McIlroy took home both awards this season for the second time in his career - he also won both in 2012 and was the youngest player to do so, at 23 years old, since Tiger Woods in 1999. Many speculated that Billy Horschel would give McIlroy a run for his money for the Jack Nicklaus Award because Horschel won the year's final two playoff events and came in second at another. But not since 1991 has the PGA of America Player of the Year not won PGA Tour Player of the Year honors. McIlroy defeated fellow nominees Martin Kaymer, Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker and Horschel.
"I guess it just makes me realize that even though last year wasn't the year I wanted, the last three or four years have been very, very good," McIlroy said, in this ESPN article. "It gives me even more motivation to go on and work harder and try to win more tournaments, more majors, and be involved in more Ryder Cups like last week."
McIlroy is now one of four golfers - Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Nick Price - as the only one to win the Jack Nicklaus Award more than once since its inception in 1990. McIlroy also won the PGA Tour money title with $8.2 million earnings and led the field with the lowest adjusted scoring average (68.82) through 66 rounds of golf. He had a pretty phenomenal 2013-2014 season after being unable to register a win on the European AND PGA Tours last season.
ALSO: U.S. golfer Chesson Hadley was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. In 16 events he compiled one victory, four top-10 finishes and over $1.7 million in earnings.
