Johnson ROY finalist

As expected, Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson is a finalist for the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year award. The others are Chez Reavie, Andres Romero, Kevin Streelman and Marc Turnesa. Johnson will likely finish second in voting to Andres Romero, 27. They have both won, but Romero won an event with a larger purse, finished higher on the money list while playing in fewer events, and finished in the top 40 in all majors with a pair of top-10s. The U.S. Open was Johnson's only major and he tied for 24th. But Johnson should finish second in the voting. The winner will be announced in mid-December, along with the winners of a pair of other awards.
Nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as the PGA Tour Player of the Year are Padraig Harrington, Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas and Tiger Woods. Nominees for the Comeback Player of the Year honor are Dudley Hart, Davis Love III and Rocco Mediate. Players were nominated for each respective award by the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council and Player Directors. The awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official money events in 2008 eligible to vote.
In 2007, Tiger Woods claimed his third straight and ninth overall Jack Nicklaus Trophy. Brandt Snedeker was named the Rookie of the Year and Steve Stricker received his second straight Comeback Player of the Year honor. The 2009 season begins at the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship from Jan. 8-11 in Hawaii.