Golf Digest Awards

Golf Digest honors the best players in the game

Edited by Ron Kaspriske

Since 1954, we've been honoring the best players in the game, and with each passing year, our list of award winners seems to have more of an international flair. This year it starts with our World Player of the Year, Martin Kaymer, who is the first German-born golfer since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to earn the award. Kaymer edged Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, by winning in four countries. Also on our list of award recipients are golfers from Spain, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Northern Ireland and the good ol' USA. Click through these slides to see them all. -- RK

MARTIN KAYMER / 26
World Player of the Year
After winning the PGA Championship in August for his first major, Kaymer won the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to capture three consecutive tournaments. He also went 2-1-1 in the Ryder Cup, helping the European side to victory. He got his 2010 year off to a great start by claiming the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January, thereby winning events on three continents.

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MATT KUCHAR / 32

Most Improved Player, PGA Tour

The Florida native and Georgia Tech grad had one victory (The Barclays) and 10 other top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2010. He led the money list with $4.9 million, thanks to five top-3 finishes. He also led the tour in scoring average (69.61) and won two points for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. His previous best in earnings for a season was $2.4 million, and his most top 10s in one year had been five.

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