Four names, one award: The PGA Tour is looking for its 2025 Player of the Year. Who will take home the Jack Nicklaus Award?
The season is complete and most trophies have been handed out — all except one. The Jack Nicklaus Award, one of the most prestigious honors in golf, is awarded to the PGA Tour Player of the Year. The 2025 nominees are Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and Ben Griffin. The winner is chosen by fellow Tour members — specifically, those who played at least 15 PGA Tour events during the calendar year. Voting is conducted digitally and runs through December 12.
Four contenders, one goal: PGA Tour’s top honor
Six wins, two majors, and no missed cuts — Scottie Scheffler delivered a season for the ages. The 29-year-old was the most consistent player on the PGA Tour in 2025, capturing titles at the PGA Championship, The Open, and other marquee events like the Memorial and BMW Championship. He also posted the lowest scoring average of the season (68.131). It’s no surprise Scheffler enters the vote as a frontrunner.
McIlroy completes career Grand Slam at the Masters
One of his main challengers is Rory McIlroy, who made history in 2025 by winning the Masters — the final piece of his career Grand Slam. That alone secures his legacy, but the Northern Irishman added three PGA Tour victories, including the Players Championship. He played 16 events, recorded eight top-10 finishes, and posted the second-best scoring average (69.083).
Fleetwood and Griffin: First-time nominees make their mark
Tommy Fleetwood had long awaited his first PGA Tour win, and it finally came at the season finale. The Brit not only won the Tour Championship but also secured the FedExCup. With eight top-10s in 19 starts, a solid scoring average of 69.357, and a No. 4 world ranking, Fleetwood peaked when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, Ben Griffin was the workhorse among the nominees. With 30 starts, three wins, and 12 top-10 finishes, he climbed the rankings through consistency and volume. For both Fleetwood and Griffin, this marks their first nomination for Player of the Year — a testament to their standout seasons on the PGA Tour.