This year’s Player of the Year award presentation happened in an unusual manner. McIlroy was sat down with Nicklaus at The Bear’s Club in South Florida to receive the Byron Nelson Trophy for having the lowest adjusted scoring average. Someone then placed the Nicklaus Award on the table, in front of McIlroy. McIlroy looked at the trophy and said, “I’ve already got two of those.” “Well, you’ve got three now,” replied Nicklaus, as quoted by the PGA Tour.
McIlroy looked surprised, and said, “I’ve got goosebumps.” McIlroy beat fellow golfers Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, and Xander Schauffele in a player vote for the award, which he was also given in 2012 and 2014. Koepka had already won the PGA of America’s Player of the Year based on points. “I couldn’t be more proud to win this award for the third time,” McIlroy remarked, as quoted by AP.
“Yeah, very… somewhat surprised, but honored that my fellow players thought enough of my year to award me this honor again.” Despite McIlroy winning three times during the 2018-19 season, including his latest victory at the Tour Championship, Koepka was considered the front-runner for the award thanks to his play in the majors. He became the fifth player ever to finish in the Top 5 at all four majors in a single season with his victory at the PGA Championship, runner-up finishes at the Masters and the US Open, and a tied fourth at The Open.
McIlroy himself had even acknowledged Koepka’s performance was deserving of Player of the Year after he defeated the World No. 1 at the Tour Championship last month. “He’s had a great season,” McIlroy said. “He's won another major, he's won three times. And I know it's going to sting because he most likely will win the Player of the Year, but he didn't win the FedEx Cup.”
