Brooks Koepka edges Rory McIlroy to capture second consecutive PGA Player of the Year Award

Jay Betsill | August 26, 2019 | Golf, News | No Comments

Brooks Koepka edged Rory McIlroy in capturing a second consecutive PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA TOUR professional.

McIlroy, who won last weekend’s TOUR Championship and was a three-time-time winner this season, earned his third Vardon Trophy.

Koepka’s drive to a second straight PGA Player of the Year Award was highlighted by his repeat triumph in the PGA Championship in May. His overall 84 points are based upon 50 points for collecting his fourth career major along with victories in The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He topped the season money list and was fourth in the Vardon Trophy standings for adjusted scoring average. The official PGA TOUR season money list concludes prior to the 30-player TOUR Championship.

McIlroy, the 2012 and ’14 PGA Player of the Year, was second overall with 78 points, followed by Patrick Cantlay and U.S. Open Champion Gary Woodland with 42 points each.

Since 1948, the PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with the PGA Player of the Year Award. It is presented to the top TOUR professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. Points for the 2018-19 season began with the Safeway Open on Oct. 4, and concluded Aug. 25, at the TOUR Championship.

In the Vardon Trophy race, McIlroy finished with a 69.057 adjusted scoring average based upon 72 complete rounds. He previously won the Vardon Trophy in 2012 and ’14. Cantlay finished runner-up at 69.306; followed by Webb Simpson (69.377), Koepka (69.395) and Justin Thomas (69.466).

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by the PGA of America in honor of legendary British golfer Harry Vardon, has been presented annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA TOUR. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.

The PGA TOUR also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner announced in September, determined by a vote of the membership.

FINAL 2019 PGA Player of the Year Standings (ending 8/25/19)

Player	Victory points	Money points	Scoring points	Total points
1. Brooks Koepka	50	20	14	84
(The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, PGA Championship, WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational)
2. Rory McIlroy	40	18	20	78
(The Players Championship, RBC Canadian Open, TOUR Championship)
T3 Patrick Cantlay	10	14	18	42
(The Memorial Tournament)
T3 Gary Woodland	30	12	—	42
(U.S. Open)
5. Matt Kuchar	20	16	—	36
(Mayakoba Golf Classic, SONY Open in Hawaii)
T6 Xander Schauffele	20	10	—	30
(WGC-HSBC Championship, Sentry Tournament of Champions)
T6 Shane Lowry	30	—	—	30
(Open Championship)
T6 Tiger Woods	30	—	—	30
(The Masters)
9. Justin Thomas	10	6	12	28
(BMW Championship)
T10 Dustin Johnson	10	8	—	18
(WGC-Mexico Championship)
T10 Webb Simpson	—	2	16	18

FINAL 2019 Vardon Trophy Standings

Player	Rounds	Adj. Avg.
1. Rory McIlroy	72	69.057
2. Patrick Cantlay	77	69.306
3. Webb Simpson	81	69.377
4. Brooks Koepka	81	69.395
5. Justin Thomas	75	69.466
6. Jon Rahm	75	69.618
7. Adam Scott	63	69.693
8. Tommy Fleetwood	71	69.729
9. Paul Casey	79	69.821
10. Justin Rose	66	69.825