Johnson earns his second Vardon Trophy
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2018) – Two-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who turned professional just six years ago and who overcame a serious wrist injury prior to this season, wrapped up a historic campaign by capturing the 2018 PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA TOUR professional.
Dustin Johnson, a two-time winner this season, earned his second Vardon Trophy in three years.
Koepka, who won a second consecutive U.S. Open Championship in June, powered his way to the PGA Player of the Year award by winning the PGA Championship in August. He collected 126 total points based upon two major championship victories, which guaranteed him 50 bonus points. He also finished fifth in the season money list and ninth in the Vardon Trophy standings for adjusted scoring average.
Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Player of the Year, finished second overall with 66 points, followed by Johnson with 58 and Fedex Cup Champion Justin Rose with 54.
Since 1948, the PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with the PGA Player of the Year Award. It is presented to the top TOUR professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. Points for the 2017-18 season began with the Safeway Open on Oct. 5, and concluded Sept. 23, at the TOUR Championship.
In the Vardon Trophy race, Johnson finished with a 68.698 adjusted scoring average based upon 77 complete rounds. Rose was runner-up at 68.993, followed by Thomas (69.118), Webb Simpson (69.293) and Rory McIlroy (69.303).
Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by the PGA of America in honor of legendary British golfer Harry Vardon, has been presented annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA TOUR. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.
The PGA TOUR also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner announced in early October, determined by a vote of the membership.
