In the interests of transparency, I publish my vote for Player of the Year each December. For the record, like my brethren in the BWAA, I will never cast a vote for a player under a cloud of suspicion for steroid/PED use.
This year, Graeme McDowell made the quantum leap form potentially great player to major champion and Ryder Cup hero. It was a tough ballot. Jim Furyk had a terrific year as well. He won three tournaments and $10 Million for the FedEx Flop. Moreover, he’s a prince of a guy and – with the exception of straining his neck popping Advil or oversleeping to miss a tee time, there’s never a snap, snipe, or sour note form the Steeler-loving ordinary Joe with blue-collar work ethic and first class demeanor.
Still, McDowell shone brightest on the biggest stages and in the toughest moments. After years of knocking on the door at majors, McDowell won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Then he derailed a U.S. Ryder Cup comeback that would have rivaled Brookline ’99 by holding off a hard-charging Hunter Mahan. GMac has paid his dues, and now he can bask in a few weeks of well-deserved rest before heading out for another season.
Past winners:
2007 Zach Johnson
2008 Padraig Harrington
2009 Geoff Ogilvy
