Woods named PGA Tour Player of the Year; Spieth named Rookie of the Year

As reported by www.pgatour.com

The PGA TOUR announced Friday Tiger Woods as PGA TOUR Player of the Year and Jordan Spieth as PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the TOUR’s membership for the 2013 season.

PGA TOUR members who played in at least 12 official money events in 2013 were eligible to vote following the conclusion of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. The balloting process ended on Sept. 26.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, my congratulations to Tiger and Jordan for their impressive performances in 2013,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Tiger’s five wins came against some of the strongest fields in golf including THE PLAYERS and two World Golf Championships while Jordan’s rookie season was historic in terms of his accomplishments for a player just 20 years old. The member vote reflects the respect their peers have for both players.”

Tiger Woods

 Woods, 37, was voted the PGA TOUR Player of the Year for a record 11th time in his career.
In 16 TOUR starts, Woods won five times, the 10th time in his career he has compiled five or more victories. Woods’ victories included (in order) the Farmers Insurance Open, World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, THE PLAYERS Championship and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He was the PGA TOUR Season leader in FedExCup points and finished second in the season-long FedExCup competition.

"It's been an incredible year to have won five times," Woods said. "Fantastic year all around. It's an incredible feeling to be voted by your peers and have that respect. It's very humbling."

 Woods also earned his 11th PGA of America Player of the Year Award, his ninth Vardon Trophy for Adjusted Scoring Average (68.985) awarded by the PGA of America and his 10th Arnold Palmer Award as the TOUR’s leading official money winner ($8,553,439).

 With 79 career victories, Woods enters the 2013-14 PGA TOUR Season three wins shy of Sam Snead’s all-time PGA TOUR record of 82.

 Woods, who will receive the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as Player of the Year, was selected over Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.

Jordan Spieth

Spieth, 20, who started the 2013 PGA TOUR Season with no PGA TOUR status after turning professional last fall, made history at the John Deere Classic where he became the youngest player (19 years, 11 months and 18 days) to win on the PGA TOUR since Ralph Guldahl (19 years, 8 months, 3 days) at the 1931 Santa Monica Open.

In 23 starts, Spieth tied Brandt Snedeker and Bill Haas for most top-10 finishes on TOUR with nine, including runner-up finishes at the Puerto Rico Open by seepuertorico.com, Wyndham Championship and the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. He finished seventh in the FedExCup and became the youngest player in TOUR Championship history at 20 years, 1 month and 26 days.

"It's a tremendous honor," Spieth said. "It's been a great year for rookies on the PGA TOUR."

 No. 810 in the Official World Golf Ranking after a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January in his first professional PGA TOUR start, Spieth is currently 21st in the OWGR.

On September 4, Spieth was named a Captain’s Pick by Fred Couples to the U.S. Presidents Cup Team. The Presidents Cup 2013 takes place next week at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Spieth was voted PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year over Derek Ernst, Russell Henley and David Lingmerth.