After winning two of the year’s four majors, Brooks Koepka was awarded the Player of the Year by the PGA Tour for the 2018 season.
Koepka successfully defended his U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills in June, then captured the PGA’s Wannamaker Trophy in August. He became just the fifth player to win both titles in the same season, and the first since Tiger Woods in 2000.
“It’s incredible … you look at the guys that have won this, Player of the Year, and it’s just incredible to have my name with them,” Koepka said on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
“It’s been a roller-coaster year, being on the sidelines for four months and then to come out and win two majors. It’s been a low and then an incredible high, so it’s truly an honor.”
Despite missing a bulk of the season with an injured wrist, Koepka finished ninth in the final FedEx Cup standings.
“On behalf of the PGA Tour, our congratulations to Brooks Koepka on being voted PGA Tour Player of the Year by his peers,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said via statement.
“Brooks has brought a new brand of athleticism to the PGA Tour, and we saw the results this year with his historic season at the major championships and a top-10 finish in the FedExCup. These feats were accomplished despite missing significant time due to injury, a testament to his work ethic and perseverance throughout the season.”
The other finalists included Francesco Molinari, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau.
Thomas (2017)and DJ (2016) – the two most recent PGA TOUR POYs, checked in via Twitter to offer some kudos:
Congrats to BK @BKoepka on POY honors. Extremely deserving and played some unbelievably clutch golf at the biggest stages all year. Go lift some weights to celebrate ??
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) October 9, 2018
Congratulations @bkoepka. Great season bro…POY well deserved
— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) October 9, 2018
