Dustin Johnson, on the heels of his first FedExCup victory, was voted the recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award taking home PGA Tour’s Player of the Year honors, while Scottie Scheffler received the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.
Both awards were voted by the PGA TOUR members for the 2019-2020 season.
Dustin Johnson – Player of the Year
Despite playing in an odd season, and battling through injury, Johnson, 36, put together a flurry of incredible performances. He won the Travelers Championship after the PGA Tour restarted, finished runner-up at the PGA Championship and then won two of three FedExCup Playoff events, losing the other in a playoff to world No. 2 Jon Rahm. He also grabbed his first FedExCup overall and made nearly $20 million over the last month of the season. Johnson also finished the season as World No. 1.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the accolade for Johnson is the latest in a hall of fame career. “His demeanor and athleticism on the course make it look very easy, but behind the scenes, he’s worked incredibly hard coming back from injury and his 2019-2020 season speaks for itself in further bolstering his World Golf Hall of Fame resume.”
Johnson ranks 27th on the all-time wins list with 23, and now has victories in 13-straight years, becoming only the fourth player to reach that mark, behind Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods.
Scottie Scheffler – Rookie of the Year
Scheffler finished fifth in the FedExCup, one of only two rookies to make it to the Tour Championship. In 23 starts, Scheffler recorded seven top 10 finishes, six of which in the top five. His year was highlighted by a third-place finish at The American Express. Scheffler recorded his first top-five in a major (a tie for fourth at the PGA Championship) in his fourth major championship start, and shot 59 at the Northern Trust.
“To follow up Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year with being voted PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year by the PGA TOUR membership is an extraordinary achievement and speaks to Scottie’s dedication and work ethic,” said Monahan.
After two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, Scheffler claimed 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year honors. He becomes the second consecutive player, and third overall, to be named the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in successive years.