Since 1990, when the PGA Tour established the Participant of the Yr Award—now often called the Jack Nicklaus Award—eight gamers have gained a number of main championships in a given season.
Tiger Woods completed this feat on 4 events, successful a number of majors in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2006. Xander Schauffele most just lately did so this previous season, successful the PGA Championship at Valhalla and The Open at Royal Troon. These two wins launched his profession into a distinct stratosphere, as Schauffele additional cemented himself as the most effective golfers on the planet. He additionally turned one of many prime gamers of his era.
Earlier than this season, 10 gamers gained at the least two majors in the identical calendar yr relationship again to 1990. In all 10 cases, that particular person gained the Jack Nicklaus Award, as determined by fellow tour execs by a vote. The whole record follows under:
- 1994: Nick Worth
- 1998: Mark O’Meara
- 2000: Tiger Woods
- 2002: Tiger Woods
- 2005: Tiger Woods
- 2006: Tiger Woods
- 2008: Padraig Harrington
- 2014: Rory McIlroy
- 2015: Jordan Spieth
- 2018: Brooks Koepka
That mildew will break this yr, and Schauffele is aware of it.
“I imply, it appears I have to have the most effective yr ever,” Schauffele mentioned when requested what he must do to win the Participant of the Yr subsequent yr.
“I simply had the most effective yr of my profession and wasn’t actually shut. I’m fairly content material with how I performed and the place my recreation is at. If I can carry on doing what I’m doing, I’d be more than happy.”
The PGA Tour will presumably rejoice Scottie Scheffler as its Participant of the Yr for a 3rd straight season. Scheffler went on a historic tear starting in early March at Bay Hill, successful the Arnold Palmer Invitational after which The Gamers in back-to-back weeks. He went on to win at Augusta Nationwide, Harbour City, Muirfield Village, and TPC River Highlands, thus changing into the primary participant to win six instances earlier than Jul. 1 since Arnold Palmer did so in 1962. He capped off his season with a dominant efficiency at East Lake, capturing his first FedEx Cup title throughout Labor Day weekend. Scheffler additionally added a Gold Medal at The Olympics in between, due to a historic Sunday cost at Le Golf Nationwide that can be highlighted within the historical past books perpetually.
Schauffele, in the meantime, didn’t win outdoors of his two main triumphs. However he made each minimize in 2024. He had a presence on the entrance web page of the leaderboard seemingly each week. He completed among the many top-10 in 15 of the 21 occasions he performed on the PGA Tour, together with all 4 majors in 2024—the one one to take action. Scheffler can’t say the identical. Due to his putter not displaying up, the previous Texas Longhorn tied for forty first at Pinehurst No. 2. Schauffele tied for seventh that week, ending 5 again of Bryson DeChambeau, so at the least he can maintain that towards the World No. 1.
But, regardless of making historical past associated to the Participant of the Yr award, Schauffele wouldn’t change a factor about this previous season.
“It was a dream come true,” Schauffele mentioned forward of this week’s ZOZO Championship.
“Profitable two majors in a season is, you understand, you type of dream of that stuff, and for me, with the ability to do it is vitally particular. So I’ll all the time bear in mind 2024.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
