Certainly Perry, with three wins, merits consideration. But majors still rule in the player of the year vote and not only didn't Perry win one, he played just one round in a major championship the entire year: the first round of the PGA Championship before being forced to withdraw with a scratched cornea.
Even Jay Williamson, a friend of Perry's, said he couldn't vote for his pal. When asked if Perry still had a chance for POY should he win two of the playoff events and capture the FedEx Cup, Williamson said, "I'd love to see an American player have a chance, but [if you] win two majors, in my mind you're player of the year. I know we're trying to push the FedEx Cup and all it represents and if K.P. [won the FedEx Cup] he would certainly get some consideration. But it's really about winning the majors, so I think it's Paddy's."
As for Harrington himself, he is taking nothing for granted. "I'd love to win, and I'd be very proud to win Player of the Year," said Harrington. "I get one vote, and I know who I'll be voting for."
It seems as if quite a few other players will be voting for him, too.
Three POYs, three systems - same result?
As there are in other sports, golf has several top-player awards available to the tour's top star, and perhaps fittingly, the three biggest--given by the PGA Tour, the Golf Writers Association of America and the PGA of America--differ in how the top player is selected.
The PGA Tour's Player of the Year/Jack Nicklaus Trophy is voted on by tour players, the GWAA award is selected by golf media and the PGA of America award is based on a mathematical formula that weighs tournament wins, official money standings and scoring average.
But if you're looking for a split decision, you're in the wrong place. The last time there wasn't a clean sweep by a player was 1991 when Fred Couples was honored by the PGA Tour and the GWAA, and Corey Pavin was the PGA of America honoree.
- Text Size:
- Small Text
- Medium Text
- Large Text
