McIlroy: PGA of America Player of Year, Vardon Trophy, Matches Donald's Double

Rory McIlroy, the player most believe has the best chance to dominate golf for the next 10 years, has claimed four of golf’s annual awards. 

He was awarded the PGA of America Player of the Year, which is based on points awarded for victories, scoring average and money list position on the PGA Tour.  In addition, he won the Vardon Trophy, named for the legendary Harry Vardon, and awarded for low scoring average for the season. McIlroy led with an average of 69.02 for 44 rounds of golf.

Finally, just one year after Luke Donald became the only golfer in history to win the money titles on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour, McIlroy matched that feat. 

Tiger Woods was second in the PGA of America award points.  Woods has already won the PGA Player of the Year award 10 times and the Vardon Trophy eight times.  Woods was ineligible for the Vardon Trophy in 2012 because he withdrew during a round in March, giving him an incomplete score for that round.  He also received a .10 penalty for the withdrawal.

The PGA Player of the Year was first presented in 1948, and the Vardon Trophy originated in 1937.

Regarding the money titles, McIlroy told the European Tour (via europeantour.com) “It has been one of my main goals to become Number One in Europe ever since securing my card five years ago, so to end the year as the Number One on both the European and US PGA Tours is absolutely amazing.”

He said the accomplishment of winning his second major as “made it a fabulous season” and called matching Luke Donald’s feat  “icing on the cake.”

His position on the European money list comes even before their season-ending Race to Dubai has concluded, which is played over Thanksgiving weekend. 

“A lot of hard work went into this, and I am really proud of what I’ve achieved in 2012,” he said, praising his team.   “I’ve still got two events remaining this year, and the goal is still to try and win at least once more before the end of the season.”

2012 PGA Player of the Year Standings

                                                                             

                               Victory           Money            Scoring                    Total

Player                    Points             Points             Points                      Points

 

1. Rory McIlroy                      60                    20                    20              100

(Honda Classic, PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship )

2. Tiger Woods                       30                    18                    18              66

(Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Memorial Tournament, AT&T National)

 

Kathy Bissell is a Golf Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand or from official interview materials from the USGA, PGA Tour or PGA of America.