Recognition for McIlroy
NEW YORK: Rory McIlroy may not have added to his collection of major titles during the 201819 campaign, but the Northern Irishman did enough to be named the PGA Tour Player of the Year yesterday for a third time.
The 30yearold Northern Irishman, who won three titles during the season including the Players Championship and Tour Championship, beat Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar and Xander Schauffele in a vote by players for the Jack Nicklaus Award.
‘‘I couldn’t be more proud of what I achieved this year,’’ McIlroy, who had 14 top10 finishes in his 19 starts, said.
McIlroy, who won the award in 2012 and 2014, made 17 of 19 cuts while racking up three victories, the final one at the seasonending Tour Championship in Atlanta where he also claimed the FedExCup for a $15 million pay day.
The fourtime major champion’s other victory came in his RBC Canadian Open debut, in which he set a tournament record and won by seven shots — the largest winning margin of the season.
But when it came to the majors, McIlroy finished tied for 21st at the Masters, tied for eighth at the PGA Championship, tied for ninth at the US Open and missed the cut at the British Open in his native Northern Ireland.
McIlroy admitted he was surprised to win the award over Koepka, who last month was named PGA of America Player of the Year and considered the frontrunner after finishing in the topfive at each major, including at the PGA Championship where he picked up his fourth major title. — Reuters