Scott wins US writers award

News

bruced
January 2, 2014

Adam Scott’s was named Male Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America, edging Tiger Woods by five votes.

The 33-year-old Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters, then added a FedExCup playoff victory at The Barclays. His two PGA Tour means that he now trails Woods by the same number as the votes by which he won.

“It is an honor to be recognised as the most consistent male golfer of 2013 and it is appreciated to have the respect of the Golf Writers of America. Thank you,” Scott said from Maui where he’s for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

The GWAA, which has honored Woods 10 times in the past as its Player of the Year, noted that it goes outside the boundaries of the PGA TOUR and takes into consideration global play.

According to a release by the orginisation the Scott’s sublime finish to the year Down Under in November and December swayed voters.

There he won the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters, teamed with Jason Day to win the team portion of the World Cup of Golf and narrowly missed out at the Australian Open.

Scott played in 20 tournaments worldwide with four wins to show while he finished in the top three on eight occasions.

He never missed a cut and in addition to his win at the Masters, he finished third at the Open Championship and joint fifth at the PGA Championship.

Meanwhile in the senior’s and women’s categories a lot less head scratching was required as it Kenny Perry – GWAA’s Senior Player of the Year – and Inbee Park (Female Player of the Year) both picked-up 91% percent of the 220 votes.

Perry had three wins on the Champions Tour, two of them majors – the Senior Players Championship and the Senior U.S. Open.

He also earned the season-long Charles Schwab Cup and easily won the GWAA honor over Bernhard Langer.

“It is my highest honor, from the players or the writers, to be named player of the year,” said Perry. “Here I am at 53 doing stuff I probably shouldn’t be doing, I’m so honored that the writers are paying attention to me.”

The 25-year-old Park enjoyed a sizzling season from the start as she secured victories in the season’s first three majors – the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Her quest for Grand Slam ended in a disappointing outing at the Women’s British Open where she finished tied for 43nd place, yet she banked six victories on home soil, topped the money title, and the made No. 1 spot in the LPGA Tour’s Player of the Year standings her own.

“Last year was a year that I could never forget,” said Park.

“I was able to put my name among the greatest players around the world. Now, on top of that, I am being recognised and honored by golf writers.

“They are those who know what has just happened last year in every detail. I can almost say that they know me better than I know myself. That’s why this honor is very special and means a lot to me.”

The winners will be honored April 9 at the annual GWAA Awards Dinner in Augusta, the night before the start of the Masters.

News