Despite these schedule differences, the circumstances behind the two seasons could not be any more stark. With nine events left in the season, the PGA Tour still has several questions surrounding it. There is no clear player of the year, the world number one is not fully secure (though Adam Scott is playing well), and each week seems to produce a different champion. The LPGA, meanwhile, has a bunch of events left, but the top players have been established. There are very few "surprise winners" on the LPGA, especially this year.
These "awards" are based on nothing more than my own observations, and are no predictor of the future.
Player Of The Year
PGA: Martin Kaymer - He won two of the biggest events on Tour. Honestly, you can make a big case for Bubba Watson and I don't think I would argue too much. Fact is, there isn't someone who has taken the Tour by storm this year. All of the big name players have had disappointing seasons - including world number 1 Adam Scott, who has a victory this season. I know it's hard to win on Tour, but if someone with two wins ends up winning the Player Of The Year award at the end of the season, it will show just how much the Tour misses Tiger.
Other Considerations: Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker
LPGA: Michelle Wie - Yes, I know. Statistically, Stacy Lewis has had the better season. It's hard to not give the award to someone who only finished outside the top 10 once this season...but it's also hard to not give the award to someone who won twice, including a major, finished runner up in the other major, and whose worse finish is T23. The question is, which is more impressive - three wins, or two wins including a major? Give me the major, especially the biggest golf tournament in the women's game.
Other Considerations: Stacy Lewis
Rookie Of The Year
PGA: Brooks Koepka - The only rookie to really "move the needle", if you will. The PGA Tour isn't going to take into account his performance on the European Tour, but I can't completely ignore it. He qualified for both major Opens, and would be 89th in the FedEx Cup standings if he were eligible while playing two tours. Chesson Hadley has a win, but it was in an alternate field event.
Other Considerations: Chesson Hadley, Brice Garnett
LPGA: Line Vedel - Lydia Ko is going to win this award without any troubles, but I refuse to accept the fact that someone who won twice on Tour can be considered a "rookie". With Ko out of the consideration, Vedel has been the most consistent rookie this year. Mirim Lee is ahead of Vedel in the standings, but won a majority of her points months ago and has been quiet since. Vedel has made four of five cuts, with three of those being top 25 finishes. Vedel has only missed two cuts this season.
Other Considerations: Mirim Lee, Amy Anderson
Comeback Player Of The Year:
PGA: J.B. Holmes - A lot of players to consider for this one, but I decided to go with the one who played the best this season. Holmes came back from elbow injuries and brain surgery to win the Wells Fargo Championship, finish T17 in the US Open, and currently sits at 30th on the FedEx Cup standings. Holmes is in the midst of his best season as a pro, and at only 32 years old, we could be seeing a lot of Holmes in the future.
Other Considerations: Retief Goosen, Angel Cabrera, Erik Compton, Martin Kaymer
LPGA: Michelle Wie - This one is a no-brainer. Wie wasn't just an afterthought - she was a joke. She was the warning sign of what happens when you try to turn a prodigy into a professional too quickly. She had commentators in golf and in other sports circles ridiculing her, and now she's one of the top players on Tour. Her year would be remarkable if it was anyone, but the fact that it's Wie makes it stunning. What a huge difference a year makes.
Other Considerations: Se Ri Pak
Biggest Disappointment:
PGA: Phil Mickelson - Tiger Woods has had a horrible year because of injury. Phil Mickelson's horrible year is far less easy to explain. Coming into this season, all the talk was on Lefty completing the career grand slam, and how he was going to perform leading up to that moment. Phil hasn't has a single top 10 this season. He hasn't been a factor in any of the big events on the schedule. This isn't a drop off or a decline for Lefty. It's a complete disappearing act.
Other Considerations: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Zach Johnson
LPGA: Japan - Yes, the entire country of Japan. If you asked me two years ago, I would have told you Japan is the second best country on the LPGA in terms of talent, behind South Korea. This year, I don't know if they even top China, who only really has one player. Ai Miyazato is no longer a top 10 player. Mika Miyazato, who I thought was poised for a breakout, has completely disappeared. I don't even know if Chie Arimura is still on Tour. The player who has performed the best on Tour this season has been Sakura Yokomine, and she isn't even an LPGA player. Incredibly disappointing for such a collection of talent.
Other Considerations: The Jutanugarn Sisters, Na Yeon Choi, Beatriz Recari, Carlota Ciganda, Suzann Pettersen, Brittany Lang, Inbee Park
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