LOS ANGELES • Jordan Spieth capped his trophy-laden season with more silverware on Monday, winning the PGA of America Player of the Year award and the prestigious Vardon Trophy.

The 22-year-old American became the second-youngest player to win the awards in the same year, after countryman Tiger Woods achieved the feat as a 21-year-old in 1997.

The accolades came after Spieth held his nerve to win the Tour Championship on Sunday, completing a remarkable season which also included triumphs in the Masters and US Open.

The season-ending awards are given for excellence by a PGA Tour professional.

On Sunday, Spieth took his earnings for his five-win season to just over US$22 million (S$31 million), making him the first US$22 million man in Tour history.

With a one-under 69 at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Sunday, he clinched the US$10 million bonus on offer to the winner of the FedExCup and surpassed the record of US$20.9 million set by Woods in 2007.

The win also restored Spieth's world No. 1 ranking, ahead of Australian Jason Day.

The Vardon Trophy is given to the PGA Tour golfer who posts the lowest scoring average each year.

Spieth averaged 68.911 through 91 complete rounds this season, just pipping PGA Championship winner Day (69.161), who completed 75 rounds, by 0.25.

Spieth tallied 180 Player of the Year points, ahead of Day (106), and fellow Americans Bubba Watson (52), Zach Johnson (46) and Rickie Fowler (44).

The points totals are calculated on a system that takes into account tournament wins, official money standings and scoring averages.

Spieth is also the front-runner to earn PGA Tour Player of the Year honours on Friday.

The other nominees are Day, Fowler and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

Asked what he could do for an encore next season, Spieth replied: "Hopefully improve. Get better. Ball-striking. I can get stronger. I can hit it farther. My short game."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NEW YORK TIMES