2011 PGA Player of the Year

At the end of every PGA Tour season, the tour heads get together and select one player as the PGA Tour Player of the Year.  Usually, there are only one or two players who are heads above the rest of the field.  This usually makes the decision pretty darn easy for the selection committee.  However, this year is different.  There is no clear-cut winner of the award.  There are 5 players who won 2 events, and more who could be considered in the running.  So who is it gonna be?  And who are my top 5 contenders?

1. Luke Donald
World #1 Luke Donald had about as good of a year on the PGA Tour as you can have.  Winning twice, including the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, as well as 14 top 10s including two majors, he has the resume for success.  Donald also led the PGA Tour in money winnings.  His scoring average was 69.7, which puts him in the upper class as well.  There is really nothing in his stats to hurt him in his quest.

2. Webb Simpson
Webb Simpson finished runner-up in the money winnings to Luke Donald by the smallest of margins.  2011 was his break-out year on the PGA Tour, finally winning 2 events, including the Deutche Bank Championship, the second leg of the Fed-Ex cup.  Simpson finished with 12 top 10s and with a scoring average of 69.2, a full half stroke better than Luke Donald's.


3. Nick Watney
Nick Watney was another breakout star on the PGA Tour this year, finishing only behind Donald and Simpson on the money list.  He too won 2 PGA Tour events, the prestigious WGC Cadillac Invitational at Doral, as well as the AT&T National event which is hosted by Tiger Woods.  Watney finished with 10 top 10s, and had a scoring average of 69.6.


4. Keegan Bradley
The only 2011 Major Champion on the list, Rookie of the Year frontrunner Keegan Bradley had another breakout year.  He not only won the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, but also the HP Byron Nelson Championship earlier in his rookie year.  Along with the two wins, Bradley finished with 4 top 10s and a scoring average of 70.6.  His up-and-down play may hurt him in the end.


5. Bubba Watson
Bomber Bubba Watson is the final player I have in the running for the PGA Player of the Year award.  Watson won twice this year, including the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.  Watson finished with only 3 top 10s and a scoring average of 70.6.  His weak finish of the 2011 season will probably hurt him.


So who is my choice?

Luke Donald has been the most consistent player in the world this year.  After winning the PGA Money Title, he also has a chance to wrap up the European Tour Order of Merit (or Race to Dubai as it is now called).  Very few, if any, professional golfers have had the opportunity to win both of these in one year.  That is why I am choosing Luke Donald as the 2011 PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Make your decision here with this poll.  Results will be posted in a couple days

Poll: Who Should be player of the year?