MVP, Best Rookie, Biggest Comeback, more

There is arguably no sport with a worse grasp on the idea of an “offseason” than skilled golf.

Take, as an illustration, the DP World Tour, which wrapped up its 2022 season in dramatic style at its Tour Championship on Sunday. That identical tour started its new season…at present. At two totally different tournaments, one in Australia and one other in South Africa.

The PGA Tour had a full summer time trip by comparability, with no match golf performed between the dates of Aug. 28 (the ultimate spherical of the Tour Championship) and Sept. 15 (the primary spherical of the Fortinet Championship). That meant an entire two weeks off earlier than the brand new marketing campaign.

This will change subsequent yr; the PGA Tour has wised as much as this silliness (think about wrapping up the Super Bowl after which beginning the subsequent common season in late February) and can shift its 2024 calendar in order that the season doesn’t start till January. In the meantime, although, now we have one final fall season to have a good time, and critique. Which means it’s time at hand out awards.

The enjoyable — and ridiculousness — of this train is that we’re not precisely coping with a big pattern measurement. If the season had been to finish at present, the next gamers wouldn’t qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs: Cameron Young (No. 134 within the standings), Shane Lowry (No. 142), Kevin Kisner (No. 153), Justin Thomas (No. 172), Webb Simpson (T189) and Jordan Spieth (T189). Will Zalatoris hasn’t performed an occasion. Neither has Adam Scott. Nor Daniel Berger. Nor Tiger Woods. Several different high professionals have performed solely as soon as. So it’s time to have a good time the fellas that have performed. Now, to the crimson carpet!

BEST TITLE DEFENSE

Winners: Max Homa and Rory McIlroy

Certain gamers like sure golf programs, so it is sensible when the identical guys play properly on the identical venues yearly. Still, it’s so arduous to really win that we’re amazed each time anybody defends their title. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than it occurred this fall; Max Homa confirmed as much as the primary occasion of the yr, the Fortinet Championship, and did the identical factor he did in 2021: left Napa with a trophy in his suitcase. He arrived in Charlotte at 2 a.m. the subsequent day to kick off his Presidents Cup week in type.

A month later, McIlroy did the identical factor on the CJ Cup: arrived a champion and left a champion. His victory got here with a pleasant perk: the title of World No. 1.

Three attention-grabbing sidenotes: First, McIlroy’s protection truly got here at a special course (Congaree on Hilton Head, S.C.) than his 2021 win (Summit Club, Las Vegas). McIlroy had additionally defended his Canadian Open title earlier in the summertime, additionally at a special course (St. George’s fairly than Hamilton).

Second, Homa and McIlroy have lots more in frequent. Their first PGA Tour wins every got here at Quail Hollow on the Wells Fargo Championship; McIlroy in 2010 and Homa in 2019. McIlroy then received the 2021 occasion when Homa was defending champion. And then Homa received the 2022 occasion with McIlroy as defending champion.

Third, it’s spectacular there have been two defending champions this fall seeing as a number of others didn’t even have the chance. Lucas Herbert was in a buddy’s marriage ceremony the week of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, so he missed his title protection. And Jason Kokrak and Talor Gooch, back-to-back winners finally yr’s Houston Open and RSM Classic, every left the PGA Tour for LIV, leaving their titles undefended, too.

Also receiving votes: Sungjae Im (T7 in his Shriners protection) and Viktor Hovland (T10 in his three-peat try at Mayakoba)

ROOKIE OF THE FALL

Winner: Taylor Montgomery

After ending his Korn Ferry Tour season on an absolute tear (T2-T3-T4-T9) Montgomery introduced that kind straight to the large circuit. He began his season with a third-place end on the Fortinet and completed within the high 15 in six of his seven fall begins, making him arguably the most effective participant to not have received this fall.

It is sensible that Montgomery, who grew up amongst the big-money backdrop at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas (the place his father was the professional) is unfazed by the brilliant lights. He rode a scorching putter to Rookie of the Fall.

Also receiving votes: Thomas Detry (5 cuts in 5 begins, together with a runner-up), Ben Griffin (six cuts in seven begins)

SOPHOMORE OF THE FALL

Winner: Sahith Theegala

Fresh off a finalist efficiency within the 2022 Rookie of the Year voting, Theegala is again at it this fall. He completed T6 on the Fortinet, T5 on the Zozo and T2 at this week’s RSM Classic, drawing tantalizingly nearer to victory with out fairly getting there. Theegala now has six top-six finishes in his younger PGA Tour profession however has no scarcity of enthusiasm in chasing win No. 1.

Also receiving votes: Tom Kim (we’ll get to him), Alex Smalley, Callum Tarren

BIGGEST BREAKOUT STAR

Winner: Tom Kim

I’d already awarded Theegala Sophomore of the Year earlier than I noticed that golf’s latest, youngest prince, Tom Kim, is definitely a PGA Tour sophomore too. That’s unusual as a result of he had one of many shortest rookie years in PGA Tour historical past; he accepted “Special Temporary membership” after the Open Championship after which received two begins later on the Wyndham.

But we’re speaking concerning the 2022-23 season now, and this fall is the place Kim actually shined. While we’re not likely together with the Presidents Cup in the remainder of our choices, Kim was a fist-pumping, putt-making madman all week at Quail Hollow, grabbing the eye of each golf fan close to a tv. In his subsequent begin, the Shriners in Las Vegas, Kim shot 24 below to higher the sphere by 3 and turn into the primary Tour professional since Tiger Woods to win his second occasion earlier than he’d turned 21. Good begin!

Also receiving votes: Adam Svensson, first-time winner on the RSM

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE FALL

Winner: Ben Griffin

On the PGA Tour, a “comeback” can take totally different kinds; professionals can disappear as a result of harm or yips or simply poor kind. But for Ben Griffin, “comeback” meant very actually a return to skilled golf. After a lackluster Korn Ferry season in 2019 left him in skilled limbo through the pandemic, Griffin labored a desk job in 2021 as a mortgage officer for a mortgage group. But after some encouragement from associates — and sponsorship cash, too — Griffin cruised by his 2022 KFT season, superior to the PGA Tour and stored issues rolling with six made cuts in seven begins.

The comeback child appears typically unfazed by absolutely anything. At final week’s RSM Classic, his preparation included getting his water shut off (his roommate forgot to pay the invoice) and struggling by some gastrointestinal points that had been both a abdomen bug or meals poisoning. He completed T29 anyway.

Also receiving votes: Rickie Fowler, Andrew Putnam, Patrick Rodgers

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEFTY

Winner: Brian Harman

After Lefty’s departure for LIV — after which Bubba Watson behind him! — the PGA Tour was left trying to find its personal signature left-hander. Enter Brian Harman.

Harman is one other contender for greatest fall and not using a victory, an autumn that included 4 made cuts in 4 begins and runner-up finishes in his final two at Mayakoba and RSM. He leaped to No. 24 on this planet within the course of and, if we’re getting forward of ourselves, No. 12 in U.S. Ryder Cup rankings, too.

He doesn’t have a lot competitors, both. Garrick Higgo? Akshay Bhatia? A nation of lefties turns its lonely eyes to you, gang. Ted Potter, Jr. ain’t getting any youthful.

Also receiving votes: None

BEST CADDIE CHANGE

Winner: Joe Skovron (and his gamers)

There was loads of scrutiny positioned this fall on the previous and current gamers of high-profile caddie Joe Skovron. At the tip of the 2021-22 season, Rickie Fowler — who had employed Skovron his complete profession — determined to go in a special route. Skovron quickly jumped on with Tom Kim. How’d it go?

Quite properly on either side, because it seems. Skovron received a front-row seat to Kim’s heroics at Quail Hollow after which, of their first PGA Tour begin as a group, got here away with a victory.

Fowler’s fall went fairly properly, too; his 5 begins with new looper Ricky Romano included a T6 on the Fortinet and a T2 on the Zozo. He additionally cracked the highest 20 within the newest PIP standings, so he’s received that going for him, which is sweet. Fowler inventory appears to be trending in the appropriate route, even when he has massive sneakers to fill: his personal.

MOST EFFICIENT SEASON

Winner: Rory McIlroy

You may argue that Rory McIlroy ought to sweep all of those awards, if we’re speaking about per-tournament efficiency. With McIlroy busy getting in a while on the DP World Tour this fall (plus a bit relaxation) he solely confirmed up as soon as on the PGA Tour: at Congaree, the place he flew in to defend his CJ Cup title.

That 2021 CJ Cup win felt notably vital as a result of McIlroy was coming off an excessive low; his season hadn’t gone as he’d wished, his Ryder Cup had led to tears and he was trying to find his subsequent transfer. This yr’s CJ Cup was a coronation; McIlroy left with the World No. 1 title and was the newest in a stretch of six consecutive tournaments the place his worst end was T4.

Also receiving votes: Tony Finau (two begins, one win), Keegan Bradley (three begins, two top-10s, one win), Patrick Cantlay (one begin, one runner-up)

BEST RYDER CUP AUDITION

What’s that you just say? A fiery American with Ryder Cup expertise displaying his chops down the stretch on overseas soil?

That’s proper, people: The Keegan Bradley Hive has come out of hiding. Our New England king didn’t play a lot this fall — he made simply three begins — however he made his appearances rely. First got here a T5 on the Sanderson Farms. Two weeks later he adopted that up with a stirring victory on the Zozo Championship in Japan, the place 4 rounds within the 60s left him within the winner’s circle for the primary time in some 1500 days.

Bradley’s as much as No. 26 on this planet. He’s enjoying among the greatest golf of his profession. And it’s doable — even perhaps probably — that no person needs to make this group more than he does. Your transfer, Captain Johnson!

Also receiving votes: Seamus Power, Max Homa, Russell Henley

SUNGJAE IM AWARD

Winner: Andrew Putnam

Named for the participant who spent a number of years on the PGA Tour with out an precise dwelling as a result of his relentless journey schedule, this yr’s Sungjae Im Award is introduced to Andrew Putnam, who performed eight tournaments this fall — lacking solely a visit to Bermuda — and made eight cuts within the course of.

Putnam’s fall did embody a brush with the winner’s circle throughout a T2 on the Zozo, his calling card was consistency; six of his eight outcomes had been between T21 and T43. Toss in 4 made cuts to finish the 2021-22 season and Putnam is the present proprietor of the third-longest energetic made-cut streak on Tour (12 occasions) behind solely Jon Rahm (19) and Taylor Pendrith (13).

Also receiving votes: Patrick Rodgers, who MC’d on the Fortinet after which made his subsequent seven cuts together with 4 outcomes of T16 or higher.

MVP (PLAYER OF THE FALL)

Winner: Seamus Power

In figuring out our Player of the Fall, the committee wished to reward buy-in. That means embracing the spirit of the PGA Tour fall season. It means enjoying tournaments that went utterly unnoticed by your fairweather Tour fan, who was busy watching soccer or doing actually the rest.

And it was in that setting that Seamus Power thrived.

Power performed six occasions this fall. He received the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. He completed T3 at Mayakoba. He logged a T5 at this week’s RSM Classic. And he leads the FedEx Cup standings by a large margin (749 factors to Bradley’s 638) heading into 2023. Less than a yr from now, Captain Padraig Harrington might be eagerly awaiting the possibility to inventory Team Europe with fellow Irishmen…

Also receiving votes: Bradley, McIlroy

Congratulations to all of the winners! Keep your acceptance speeches quick, please. Every minute of offseason counts.

The creator (cautiously) welcomes your ideas or suggestions at dylan_dethier@golf.com.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the yr he spent as an 18-year-old dwelling from his automotive and enjoying a spherical of golf in each state.