PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas was awarded the 2017 PGA Tour Player of the Year title after a dominant season, which included five wins, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
When JT 🏆 met Jack 🐐 pic.twitter.com/bYFRN07HxZ
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) October 5, 2017
Thomas won the FedExCup millions at the end of September to cap a standout season as he fended off competition from Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama for the title.
‘On behalf of the PGA Tour, our congratulations to Justin Thomas on being voted the PGA Tour Player of the Year by his peers,’ PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement.
‘With five remarkable wins and his season-long consistency that resulted in the FedExCup title, Justin is a deserving winner of PGA Tour Player of the Year.
‘We also salute his excellence off the course, as he is one of the many young stars that have been tremendous ambassadors for the PGA Tour this year.’
Thomas began the year in fine style, winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii back to back, which also included his 59 in the first round – the youngest player in history to do so.
The 24-year-old, part of the Presidents Cup winning side, also took home the CIMB Classic in Malaysia (which he defends next week), the Technologies Championship (the penultimate playoff event) and then finished the Tour Championship in second place to win the FedExCup to end 2017 on a high.
In a year of highlights, Thomas eagled the 18th hole in the third round of the US Open to shoot 63 – then the lowest score in relation to par in the history of Major championships.
The Player of the Year award is voted by PGA Tour professionals who have played in at least 15 official money events this season.