With two official PGA Tour tournaments in 2023, world champion Scottie Scheffler and Spain’s Jon Rahm have won four, including their second Masters victory in April.
Scheffler will remain a member of the PGA Tour, but Rahm jumped to the LIV Golf League on Dec. 7, becoming the latest star to agree to a multiyear contract worth more than $300 million.
That may be one reason PGA Tour members voted Scheffler the 2022-23 Player of the Year on Wednesday. But in the end, like I said, “I’m proud of the year I had.”
The PGA Tour said Scheffler received 38% of the vote, beating four other finalists: US Open winner Wyndham Clark, FedEx Cup winners Victor Hovland and Rory McIlroy and Rahm.
“Well, as I said before, I’m very grateful to the players who voted for me, and it’s special to receive this award.”
The tour said golfers who have participated in at least 15 official FedEx Cup tournaments can vote for the award. Last year, Scheffler received 89% of the vote after winning four tournaments, including his first Masters win.
Eric Cole, the only rookie to reach the Final Four, won the Arnold Palmer Rookie of the Year Award.
Cole, 35, is the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year since Todd Hamilton (39) in 2004. Cole’s mother, Laura Baugh, was the 1973 LPGA Rookie of the Year.
“It’s called the Arnold Palmer Award, and growing up with Mr. Palmer, it’s great to be associated with it and for my mom to win the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year Award.”
“That was 50 years ago.”
Cole said.
Scottie Scheffler retained his title as PGA Tour Player of the Year on Wednesday, ahead of LIV Golf newcomer Jon Rahm, who was named among his peers.
“I think they’ll really appreciate how prepared I am this year,”
Scheffler told reporters Wednesday ahead of the Sentinel Tournament in Hawaii, the PGA Tour’s first event of 2024.
🚨🏆🙅♂️ Jon Rahm went on the @jimrome show & was asked about Scheffler winning the PGA Tour Player of the Year award: “Oh man, listen, Scottie had a fantastic year. Fantastic year… I don’t want to take away anything from what he did, but historically, hardware is what’s won… pic.twitter.com/PlU1EXlr3j
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) January 11, 2024
The 20-year-old Spaniard will start the PGA Tour in the first four months of the year. 2023 with a record 10 top-10 finishes before announcing his move to LIV Golf in December.
Rahm will join the new LIV golf club as part of a three-year, $300 million deal, ESPN reported, citing unnamed sources. The Arnold Palmer Award, given to the PGA Tour’s newest champion of the year and winner of Eric Cole’s vote.
Enter the top ten. Cole is the second oldest player to win the Rookie of the Year award, joining 39-year-old Todd Hamilton in 2004. But here’s another surprising statistic.
In 20 tournaments, he is 4 wins and 10 out of 10. The Masters green jersey is his greatest achievement. That’s Jon Rahm’s record in 2023 and he celebrates winning the Ryder Cup in his first season.
It’s a tricky and controversial question, but Rahm himself may have tipped the scales by moving to LIV Golf. Scheffler, who is also the 2022 winner, is the sixth player to win the award multiple times and the fourth player to win it again.
“I think I was very proud of the job I did last year playing consistently and getting first place most weeks.”
“I’m proud of my two wins, or I think all three, including Herro (won by World Challenge after voting began).”
In a release announcing this award from the PGA Tour, further four candidates were nominated: British Open champion Windham Clark, FedEx Cup winner Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Rahm, with Scheffler receiving 38% of the votes.
The total number of votes received has not been made public, but the timing of the vote against Rahm’s Stout 2023 is noteworthy, to say the least.
Notably, Rahm has yet to win the award, and this is not the first time he has lost in a close race for Player of the Year.
Fans had this to convey:
Why is this so hard to comprehend? He left and went to a competing league – why would anyone vote for him, even if he won all 4 majors 🏆?
— Bill Alesio (@walesio) January 11, 2024
He's such a decent guy. I'm so sorry he turned his back on the PGA Tour.
— NolanLewis (@NolanLewis80267) January 11, 2024
PGA – Greg Norman's career is worthless as he didn't win a major in the US, even though he was number one for 331 weeks during a ball-striking exhibition.
PGA also – Scottie is the Player of the Year, didn't win much but put on a ball-striking exhibition and was number one.
— Dan (@Count_Truculent) January 11, 2024
Rahm is class, and more than a little diplomatic… Either Scheffler or Rahm would be worthy, but history does lean to hardware over consistency. Lots of change on the PGA Tour. This might just be another.
— John Conrad (@jerichsen66) January 11, 2024
You can argue 'til the cows come home about these things. It could have gone to several people…pick 1 & move on. Rahm sounds envious & bitter. Now, he can just play rec-league golf for guaranteed cash in a "sorta" competitive environment. The PGA will bust-ya-balls.
— Mike Young (@MAChoopsBGSU) January 12, 2024
He is such a nice guy. Tradgedy that he bailed and went for the money and is no longer relevant anymore. Enjoy obscurity….hope the money was worth it.
— Michael Robichaud (@SonofaRob) January 11, 2024
Jon Rahm gave up on the PGA Tour. Majors are not governed by them so hardly a surprise. Never mind. Hopefully he will enjoy being the big fish in a tiny pond at LIV, permanently.
— Kiwi Golf Lover (@kiwigolfrentals) January 11, 2024
Rahm is class, and more than a little diplomatic… Either Scheffler or Rahm would be worthy, but history does lean to hardware over consistency. Lots of change on the PGA Tour. This might just be another.
— John Conrad (@jerichsen66) January 11, 2024
Lefty. Has been my favorite player of all time. However in a few years I’m leaning towards one of these great men.
1. John Rahm
2. Bryson DeChambeau
3. Cam Smith
4. Eugenio Chacarra
Who should I pick?
I wanted to choose all of the above
P.S.
Sorry Phil you’re 53
LIV Broadcaster?— Joe Pump @Streat Taylor (@StreatTaylor) January 11, 2024
So, Rahm could care less about "hardware". Trophies I guess are meaningless to him. Just show him $300mil from anywhere and he'll be your pal forever.
— Ron (@Ron2103310) January 12, 2024
Too bad @JonRahmOfficial. You took the money and most fans are glad you didn’t win.
— yanx62 (@yanx62) January 11, 2024
Hope hes happy sacrificing 2 yrs of his life to play with a bunch of greedy way overpaid individuals, funded by Saudi bribery on a tour whose format is the most unwatchable form of golf in existence. TV coverage is nauseating & to be there in person is uninspiring to be kind
— Mark Knable (@birdiesnpar) January 12, 2024
