Fedex Cup winner Jim Furyk has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 2010 season by his fellow players. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem made the announcement on Saturday, and it is the first time the 40-year old Furyk has lifted the honour.
In addition to winning the FedEx Cup, Furyk also won three times on Tour in 2010 – the Transitions Championship, the Verizon-Heritage Classic and the season-ending Tour Championship, which sealed the win on the FedEx Cup series.
Furyk also finished second on the money list behind Matt Kuchar, with a seasonal haul of $4.8million and represented the United States in the Ryder Cup match against the Europeans at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales.
“The year just keeps getting better is all I can say,” Furyk said. “I’m not sure I want 2010 to end at this point.”
Furyk, who will receive the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as Player of the Year, was nominated for the award ahead of Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson.
“Jim is a tremendous player, a consummate professional and with three wins and the FedExCup title, his season was certainly worthy of the award,” Finchem said.
2010 was a halcyon season for Furyk after ending a two-year tournament drought with a win in the Transitions Championship back in March, but went on to win again at Hilton Head in the Verizon-Heritage Classic before sealing the FedEx Cup with victory in the Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
Furyk had previously won player of the year from the PGA of America, an award based on points; but this award came after a vote of Furyk’s fellow PGA TOUR peers.
“This one is very meaningful … having all my peers and colleagues – basically the guys I play against week in and week out – and to have them vote for me as player of the year is what’s special,” Furyk said.