Vijay Singh and Mark McNulty have been honoured with the US PGA Tour Player of the Year and US Champions Tour Rookie of the Year awards respectively, capping wonderful seasons for the two European Tour Members.
John Daly, also a European Tour Member, also picked up an award for the US PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year.
Singh won the US PGA Tour Player of Year honours and the accompanying Jack Nicklaus Trophy for the first time, breaking Tiger Woods’’s five year stranglehold on the award. He beat fellow European Tour Honorary Member Ernie Els, the European Tour Number One for the past two seasons, Phil Mickelson and Woods to the award.
The Fijian captured a remarkable nine titles in a phenomenal season including a third Major at the US PGA Championship on his way to becoming World Number One for the first time. His record earnings of $10,905,168 made him the first player to pass the $10 million mark and earned him the Arnold Palmer Award for topping the Money List. He also picked up the Byron Nelson Award for the lowest stroke average of 68.84.
His run of victories included three successive titles during a stretch in which he claimed six titles in eight appearances.
McNulty, born in Zimbabwe but now an Irish citizen, won three times during a wonderful rookie season which culminated with back-to-back victories in the SBC Championship and season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He also won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am on his debut and earned $1,423,048 on his way to finishing the season seventh on the money list. England’’s Mark James was also considered for the honour along with Americans Peter Jacobsen and Jerry Pate.
Daly had gone 189 events and eight years, six months and 22 days between victories when he won the Buick Invitational after a play-off, his first title since the 1995 Open Golf Championship.
Other awards announced by US PGA Tour Commissioner today went to Open Champion Todd Hamilton as Rookie of the Year and Hubert Green for US Champions Tour Comeback Player of the Year.
Craig Stadler and Jimmy Walker had already been announced as Players of the Year on the US Champions Tour and US Nationwide Tour respectively.
"Congratulations to Vijay, Craig and Jimmy for their exceptional seasons," said Finchem. "They played at the highest level throughout the season and are deserving recipients of this honor.
“Congratulations also to the other players nominated who produced outstanding results during the 2004 season."
