Scottie Scheffler voted PGA Tour Player of the Year for 2022 in place of Rory McIlroy after four winning seasons

Midway through the 2022 season, Scottie Scheffler is on an absolute hearth. While that pace of victory may have cooled in the last few months, Scheffler capped off a dream season on Saturday by winning the 2022 PGA Tour Player of the Year award. Scheffler, 26 . around the world on the power of the pitch.

Scheffler opened with wins at the Phoenix Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play before claiming his first major championship win of his career at masters. By winning four tournaments in six starts, Scheffler became the highest-ranked golfer in the world and finished the season with more PGA Tour earnings in a single season than any other golfer in the world. history ($14.05 million). Among other earnings, he also received $5.75 million in FedEx Cup bonuses and $4 million from the Comcast Business Tour Top 10 for a total of $24.8 million during the season. this.

Receiving 89% of the vote over McIlroy and Smith, his award was announced Saturday on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” Scheffler, a former golfer at Texas, honored before Longhorns ‘Week 2 College football match against No. 1 Alabama.

McIlroy, the three-time winner of the award, is also a three-time PGA Tour champion this season with his wins coming at the CJ Cup last fall and then the summer at the RBC Canadian Open in June. and in an impressive style. to end the season at the Tour Championship, where he topped Scheffler to pocket $18 million. The final win at a huge money-making event was like the culmination of McIlroy’s incredible season, a season in which he finished top eight in all four majors including the Masters (2nd second). ), PGA Championship (8th), US Open (T5) and Open Championship (3rd place). He ended the year with $28 million in his bank account between tournament earnings, FedEx Cup winnings, and a Comcast Business Top 10 payout.

“Scottie Scheffler is going to win Player of the Year,” McIlroy said after beating him at the Tour Championship. “There’s no doubt about it. You know, it would be fitting if he ended his breakout season with the FedEx Cup title. I think he… He’s had an unbelievable season. He didn’t have his best today, and I played well and took advantage of that.

“Scottie will have more chances to win the FedEx Cups. A goddamn tennis player, a competitor. The better one. Loves his family. Listen, it’s hard. You don’t know what to say. nothing on green 18 because he’s had such a great year, but he’ll be back, and he’s a great player, and I told him it certainly won’t be the last. we have battles like this on the golf course.”

Smith was the last to win that Open by overcoming a four-shot deficit after 54 holes by posting a 64th out of 18 finals at St. Andrews, dance McIlroy in the process. Smith also won the Players Championship and the Tournament of Champions event, crowning T3 at the Masters along the way. We won’t see him on the PGA Tour next season, though, as he has combined his Open win into a big-money deal with LIV Golf.

Each of the previous year’s three PGA Tour winners doubled as FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winners, a streak that has now ended. However, Scheffler achieved a new milestone as the first golfer to win Player of the Year on the Korn Ferry Tour (2019), PGA Tour Rookie of the Year (2020) and PGA Tour Player of the Year. since the award was first held in 1990.

“On behalf of the PGA Tour, congratulate Scottie on a remarkable season and his unprecedented achievements,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “Undoubtedly, one of the highest praises a player can receive is the endorsement from his peers, and the fact that Scottie’s season is both dominating and meaningful. consistent meaning to the members And it’s been a pleasure to watch his growth on the field. Over the past few years, we’re also incredibly grateful that Scottie has taken on the role of PGA Tour ambassador. and the game of golf. With young stars like Scottie at the helm, the PGA Tour is going to be great for years to come.”