Golf: Three wins earn Johnson three awards in super year

Dustin Johnson capping off a great season at the Ryder Cup, contributing two points in the United States' 17-11 thumping of Europe.
Dustin Johnson capping off a great season at the Ryder Cup, contributing two points in the United States' 17-11 thumping of Europe. PHOTO: REUTERS

MIAMI • American Dustin Johnson was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year on Tuesday, after a sensational 2015-16 season in which he celebrated his breakthrough victory in a Major golf championship.

The world No. 2 landed the coveted honour after posting a career-best three wins, including his US Open triumph at Oakmont Country Club in June.

Johnson, who also won the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and BMW Championship, claimed the Player of the Year honour over Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson in a vote of his peers.

  • 3

    Titles Dustin Johnson clinched this year, including a first-ever Major at the US Open.

  • $13m

    Johnson's Tour earnings this year, winning him the Arnold Palmer award.

In 22 starts, the long-hitting Johnson had a tour-best 15 top-10 finishes with 21 made cuts.

Johnson, 32, also earned the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour's leading money winner (US$9.4 million or S$13 million) and claimed the Byron Nelson Award for adjusted scoring average (69.172), the PGA Tour said in a statement.

"His hard work on the golf course and in the gym paid off with the finest season of his career and the member vote reflects the respect his peers have for him," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

After several near misses in recent years, Johnson finally clinched his first Major title amid high drama, as he was forced to negotiate the final seven holes under notice that he might be penalised for a rules infraction.

He also held top spot on the FedExCup points list going into the season-ending Tour Championship, where he narrowly missed out on the mind-boggling US$10 million play-off bonus after struggling to a closing 73.

Johnson's triumphant 2016 campaign came just two years after he took a voluntary sabbatical covering the second half of 2014, following a reported positive test for cocaine.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 13, 2016, with the headline Golf: Three wins earn Johnson three awards in super year. Subscribe