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Three Times in a Row: Scottie Scheffler Is Once Again Player of the Year

Scottie Scheffler has made golfing history by becoming only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award for Player of the Year on the PGA Tour for the third time in a row. The 28-year-old American and current world number one received an impressive 91 percent of the votes from his fellow players. While Rory McIlroy has won the award three times, Scheffler and Woods are the only two players to have won it three times in a row.

Seven Tour Titles and Olympic Gold for Scheffler

Scheffler won a total of seven titles in the 2024 season, including his second Masters title at Augusta National in April. He is the first player since Woods in 2007 to win seven titles in a single season. In addition, he capped off his outstanding season by winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. Scheffler says he reserved his best golf for his victory at the Olympics, calling that triumphant moment the highlight of his career.

“I think we’re always looking to compare somebody to Tiger Woods,” Scheffler said after receiving the award. “I saw it a lot growing up, but there’s really only one Tiger – that’s just kind of it.” Woods has won the award 11 times in his career, including five in a row between 1999 and 2003 and three in a row from 2005 through 2007.

The Player of the Year award was determined by a member vote. PGA Tour members who participated in at least 15 events during the 2024 season were eligible to vote. The voting period ran from November 25 to December 4. Scheffler won an impressive 91 percent of the votes from his fellow players, underlining his undisputed status in the golf world.

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Player of the Year: Rory McIlroy also up for election

Trio of candidates: The decision for the “Player of the Year” title on the PGA Tour is turning into a three-way battle. Ponte Vedra Beach has now officially put Rory McIlroy up for the Jack Nicklaus Award alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, who have long been virtually certain. The clear favorite is of course seven-time season winner, Masters and Players champion and Olympic gold medalist Scheffler, who could be the first to win the award for the third time in a row after Tiger Woods (2005, 2006, 2007). Schauffele will be putting his two major triumphs (PGA Championship, The Open Championship) in the balance; McIlroy, who has already been “Player of the Year” three times, won the Zurich Classic and the Truist Championship (formerly Wells Fargo).

Dunlap as favorite for “Rookie of the Year”

Nick Dunlap is the favorite for the Rookie of the Year (Arnold Palmer Award), along with Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon. The decision will be made by the Tour players and announced at the end of the year.