Bill Haas winning the FedEx Cup title over Webb Simpson made choosing the Player of the Year on the PGA Tour a no-brainer for both the PGA Tour’s players and members of the Golf Writers Association of America, who both dole out POY awards each year.
Six players won two events on the PGA Tour in 2011. Luke Donald was not one of them. Yet Donald is the logical choice for Player of the Year.
Let me explain.
While he hasn’t won more tournaments than anyone else on tour this year, he has easily accomplished the most.
Donald took over the No. 1 ranking in the world by outdueling then No. 1 Lee Westwood in a European Tour event, and has held onto it since, opening up a considerable edge over No. 2 Westwood of nearly three points at 10.70.
He will easily win the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average at 68.86, which is nearly a half-stroke better than Simpson, a rookie, at No. 2. He is currently atop the PGA Tour’s money list with more than $5.8 million earned, edging Simpson by less than $100,000 despite playing six fewer tournaments. Simpson made a late push with a pair of victories late in the season.
Donald has also easily been the most consistent player on tour, registering 13 top-10s and eight top-5s in his 18 tournaments. He even finished third in FedEx Cup points despite not winning one of the four playoff events. And his one win was significant, the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.
All this from a guy who is 151st on tour in driving distance at 284.4 yards and just 57th in driving accuracy. It shows there are more ways than one to get the ball in the hole and become the world’s best player. Being No. 1 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained through putting and possessing a consistent short game go a long way.
Congratulations Luke, you’ve earned it.
