Rory McIlroy, whose four US PGA Tour victories this year included a major title at the PGA Championship, was named the US tour’s Player of the Year on Tuesday.
US tour members vote on the award, which made the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland the youngest player to be named Player of the Year since then 21-year-old Tiger Woods in 1997.
McIlroy authored a strong finish to the season, including his eight-shot PGA Championship triumph at Kiawah Island.
He won the US PGA Tour money title, along with the European Tour’s money crown, and won the Vardon Trophy awarded by the PGA of America and the US PGA Tour-awarded Byron Nelson award – both for lowest adjusted scoring average.
“It’s always nice to get recognition from your peers, the guys that you’re trying to beat week in, week out,” McIlroy said. “It’s very rewarding and it’s just a great way to end what has been a great year and my best season so far.”
McIlroy became the third European in five years to capture the award. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington won it in 2008, and England’s Luke Donald received it last year.