Maddie Szeryk has learned a lot about herself and the sport of golf in her first full season as a professional player.

The 23-year-old Szeryk made her Symetra Tour debut in March and has put together a strong debut campaign on the second-tier women’s circuit, remaining in contention for a full LPGA Tour card as the season winds down. There was still a steep learning curve for Szeryk, even though the dual Canadian-American citizen had won four NCAA tournaments over four years at Texas A&M.

“I think I’ve grown a lot, learned how to manage myself,” said Szeryk. “I thought I’d done pretty well over the years in college and amateur golf in the summer but it’s just a whole ‘nother level of travel.

“I think I’ve learned that the hard way, that maybe you need to take more breaks or some days you don’t have to spend every day out here all day. Have a few big days but then set a list of what you want to accomplish then leave.”

Szeryk has played in 19 tournaments since the SKYiGOLF Championship in March – 18 on the Symetra Tour and the LPGA’s CP Women’s Open – and will be in the field at this week’s Guardian Championship at Capitol Hill Golf Club in Prattville, Ala.

That grind of nearly a tournament per week has taught Szeryk to pace herself, including scheduling her heaviest gym days for Mondays and keeping the lighter workouts for later in the week.

Finding balance has paid off for Szeryk, who has been in the top 10 four times this season and sits 17th on the Volvik Race for the Card. Including the Guardian Championship, there are three tournaments left on the Symetra Tour schedule for her to crack the top 10 on the money list and earn a full LPGA Tour card for the 2020 season.

“I just need to focus on every shot. I can’t get too ahead of myself,” said Szeryk, who has earned US$55,604 this season.

Tenth-ranked Min Seo Kwak has $65,831 heading into play this week and No. 9 Jenny Coleman has won $66,851.

“I’ve worked hard for good results so hopefully that can show up for the next few weeks,” Szeryk said.

Szeryk joined Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad this season after four years on the amateur squad. She’s drawn some inspiration this autumn from seeing fellow Canadians Michael Gligic and Taylor Pendrith move up the men’s pro ranks.

“It’s awesome to see so many good Canadians moving up,” said Szeryk. “Sometimes it takes time to get to where you want to be. It’s all a learning experience and everyone has a different path but it’s definitely really cool and encouraging to see other players get there.”

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., are the other Canadians in the field at the three-day Guardian Championship, which begins Friday.

LONDON, Ont. — From start to finish, Paul Barjon was the top player on the 2019 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, and it showed in the final Order of Merit standings as Barjon finished atop the earnings’ chart as the season came to a close September 15. With his tie-for-27th finish at the season-ending Canada Life Championship, Barjon, who entered the week in the No. 1 spot, held on to edge Canadian Taylor Pendrith by $2,746 to win the Player of the Year Award that goes to the Order of Merit winner. Barjon pocketed $127,336 in his 12 starts to Pendrith’s $124,590. With the No. 1 final position secured, Barjon becomes fully exempt on the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour, while Pendrith will be conditionally exempt next season as he remained No. 2 in the standings by tying for 11th this week.

After Barjon and Pendrith, the third-, fourth- and fifth-place Order of Merit finishers were Americans Jake Knapp, Lorens Chan and Patrick Fishburn, respectively. The players received their membership cards during a ceremony following the end of play Sunday at Highland Country Club.

Barjon, a native of Dumbea, New Caldenoia, who graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, completed his third full Mackenzie Tour season by enjoying his best campaign as a professional. Barjon also played the Tour 2016 and 2018, and Sunday’s tournament was his 36th career start.

Fully exempt when the season began, Barjon finished sixth at the season-opening Canada Life Open then won the following week, in Victoria, at the Bayview Place DCBank Open. He followed that with a second win, capturing the Osprey Valley Open outside Toronto in July. In his 12 tournaments, Barjon had eight top-10s and didn’t miss a cut.

“Finishing No. 1 was obviously the target at the beginning of the year. Whether I could do it or not was definitely a question mark. You always want to be the first guy, but it’s hard to put that into your mind that you can do it,” said Barjon after receiving his Player of the Year trophy. “I wish I had played better this week, but it was a great experience to play as No. 1 throughout the week and still a great accomplishment to finish first and get full Korn Ferry Tour status for next year.”

“It was quite a battle for Order of Merit supremacy and Player of the Year honors. We had so many twists and turns all week, and Paul is an impressive winner and someone we know will represent the Mackenzie Tour well as he moves on in his professional career,” said Todd Rhinehart, Mackenzie Tour Vice President and Managing Director. “Paul started his year in impressive fashion and never slowed down. To have as many consecutive under-par rounds as he did is a testament to not only his talent but his consistency throughout the year. We congratulate Paul on this tremendous accomplishment and look forward to watching him next season on the Korn Ferry Tour.”

The players who finished the sixth-through-10th positions on the final Order of Merit are exempt into the finals of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in Winter Garden, Fla., outside Orlando. That 72-hole tournament is December 12-15. The five Mackenzie Tour players exempt into that tournament, hoping to secure Korn Ferry Tour status via that route, are Hayden Buckley (No. 6), David Pastore (No. 7), Dawson Armstrong (No. 8), Greyson Sigg (No. 9) and Jonathan Garrick (No. 10).

The 2020 Korn Ferry Tour season, the 31st in its history, starts in mid-January, the full schedule still to be announced.

Beginning in 2013, the Korn Ferry Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR by awarding all 50 membership cards to Korn Ferry Tour players for the following PGA TOUR season. Players can initially qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour through the Qualifying Tournament and by securing top-five Order of Merit finishes on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China. The Mackenzie Tour sent its first five players to the Korn Ferry Tour following its inaugural season in 2013. They were Mackenzie Hughes (Canada), Riley Wheeldon (Canada), Mark Hubbard (U.S.), Hugo Leon (Chile) and Wil Collins (U.S.).

Final 2019 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit Top 10

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Suzann Pettersen stood over the final shot of her golfing career, not quite realizing it also was the last shot of the most dramatic Solheim Cup ever played.

Europe’s players had their hands over their mouths, and their captain could barely watch. Blissfully unaware of what was unfolding was 1-year-old Herman, Pettersen’s first child who was also among the thousands around the 18th green at Gleneagles.

The putt was from 7 feet, slightly left to right, and it never looked like missing.

After being mobbed by her teammates on the 18th green, an emotional Pettersen held Herman in her arms and kissed him. The Europeans had regained the Solheim Cup and one of the stalwarts of women’s golf had her perfect ending.

“Yeah, this is it. I’m completely done,” said the 38-year-old Pettersen, confirming her sudden decision to retire. “It doesn’t get any better.”

On an afternoon of singles matches that pretty much had everything, Europe secured a 14 1/2-13 1/2 win over the United States to claim the biggest team prize in female golf for the first time since 2013.

The final act, spread over two holes with virtually simultaneous putts, could not have been more thrilling.

Just as Pettersen was addressing her putt at No. 18, U.S. player Ally McDonald slid a putt to the right of the hole at No. 17 and walked up to Bronte Law to concede the match in favour of the Europeans.

The score changed to 13 1/2-13 1/2 and – without her even realizing – the outcome of the contest hinged on Pettersen.

“I thought Bronte was in behind me on the (18th) fairway,” Pettersen said. “I actually didn’t know that it was THE putt.”

That it was Pettersen who secured the winning point felt apt.

She was a contentious wild-card pick by European captain Catriona Matthew because Pettersen had played just two tournaments – missing the cut in both – since November 2017. She had time off before and after giving birth to Herman, and then because of injury.

Pettersen also had a score to settle with the Solheim Cup. In her most recent appearance, at St. Leon-Rot in Germany in 2015, she refused to concede a short putt to Alison Lee on the 17th hole of a tight fourballs match before the singles on the final day. There were angry exchanges, and it stoked a fire inside the Americans as they fought back from 10-6 down going into the singles to win 14 1/2-13 1/2.

Pettersen later apologized.

“She gone from villain to hero,” said Laura Davies, one of the European vice captains.

Pettersen’s redemption story was delivered in Scotland, the home of golf, where the U.S. team hasn’t now won in three attempts. Playing in her ninth Solheim Cup, Pettersen won two of her three matches and is now a four-time Solheim Cup winner.

The day started with the teams locked at 8-8 after four sessions, and the first definitive break of the entire contest happened when the Americans took the lead for the first time since Friday lunchtime, at 12-11.

At 13 1/2-11 1/2, they needed just a half-point from the final three singles matches out on the course to guarantee retaining the cup, but then came the European fightback.

Anna Nordqvist completed a 4-and-3 win over Morgan Pressel. Then, on No. 17, Law sealed a 2-and-1 win over McDonald to tie the score. Pettersen delivered for Europe on No. 18, but only after her opponent, Marina Alex, slid a 10-foot birdie putt wide that, if it had found the hole, would have been enough for the U.S.

“I told them afterward, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow,” said U.S. captain Juli Inkster, when asked what she’d said to her players. “It was great for women’s golf. We played great.

“But you know what, the Europeans played great. You tip your hat. And you move on to Toledo.”

Inkster won’t be there in 2021, confirming afterward that she will not be captain for a fourth straight match. She finishes with two victories from three Solheim Cups as captain.

Two of the Americans, in particular, will still look back on the week with fond memories despite the loss. Jessica and Nelly Korda, the first sisters to play together in the fourballs or foursomes at the Solheim Cup, both finished with 3 1/2 points from four matches after coming from behind to win in the singles.

Nelly Korda, out in Match 2, was 3 down after nine holes against Caroline Hedwall but won 2 up. Jessica Korda, who at age 26 is five years older than her sister, beat Caroline Masson 3 and 2 after being 2 down.

Other key interventions for the U.S. in the singles came from Megan Khang, who birdied No. 18 to claim a half-point against Charley Hull, and Lizette Salas, who parred the last for a 1-up win over Anne van Dam.

But Europe, which had a historically inferior record in singles, managed to win the session 6 1/2-5 1/2 after victories in three of the first matches to finish – including Georgia Hall taking down world No. 3 Lexi Thompson 2 and 1 – and then those last three matches.

Hall and Celine Boutier, a 2-and-1 winner over Annie Park, both won all four of their matches.

Thompson, the highest-ranked player at Gleneagles, collected just two half-points from four matches.

Matthew, carried shoulder-high by her players on the 18th green, celebrated victory in her home country.

And Pettersen closed her career with 21 points in the Solheim Cup, the Norwegian described by Matthew as “one of the trailblazers in women’s golf.”

“Coming down No. 18, Beany (Matthew) said, ‘It’s why I picked you,”’ Pettersen said. “In your wildest dreams, especially where I’ve come from, I never thought I was going to do this again.”

LONDON, Ont. – For the second time in four years, Taylor Pendrith earned Canada Life Canadian Player of the Year honours on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada.

The native of Richmond Hill, Ont., came into Sunday at the Canada Life Championship with a chance to top the Order of the Merit, but after 1-under-par 69 Pendrith ended second, just $2,700 behind Paul Barjon

Pendrith won twice in 2019 – at the 1932byBateman Open and the Mackenzie Investments Open – and had seven top-10 finishes, including a tie for 10th at the Canada Life Championship en route to winning his second Dan Halldorson Trophy (he won the award in 2015, as well).

“Obviously I’ve had a great year with two wins, and I’ve been playing some really good golf,” said Pendrith. “I started off great and didn’t have the weekend I was hoping for but I was there until the end. I was grinding. The putts didn’t go in today, but overall, great year. I’m super excited to be finishing in the top five and hopefully have a great year next year.”

The 28-year-old, who was a longtime part of Golf Canada’s National Team and a graduate of Kent State University – alongside Mackenzie Tour alums and PGA TOUR winners Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes – will head in 2020 to the Korn Ferry Tour for the second time.

He said he now knows what to expect on the Korn Ferry Tour having played some of the courses earlier.

“I’ve learned so much about myself and my game in the past few years on the Mackenzie Tour,” said Pendrith. “It really prepares you for the next level. I’ll go in there with a different mindset and hopefully get off to a good start and continue to play well.”

The week in London was marred by a freak injury for Pendrith who woke up Tuesday morning not able to move his left shoulder. He received a few injections early in the week and played through the pain – considering how important the week was.

“Obviously, I wanted to play, but ultimately I didn’t know if I could,” Pendrith admitted. “The first two days were a big grind since I had to adjust what clubs I was hitting and the balls weren’t going very far. I was in a lot of pain, but I’ll take care of it and I earned some time off now. I’ll come back stronger.”

Earlier this year Pendrith became the first Canadian to win on the Mackenzie Tour since Adam Cornelson in 2016. Pendrith said his big goal in 2019 was to finish in the top 10 on the Order of Merit.

Although he fell just short of the No. 1 spot, he said moving on to the next level and getting the opportunities he’s afforded by finishing second is a great boost to his career.

Somewhat inspired by his friends Hughes and Conners, Pendrith is one step closer to joining them on the PGA TOUR. He’s confident heading into 2020 about the prospects of joining them sooner rather than later.

“If I play like I did this year, I should be in contention out there in some events,” said Pendrith. “It should be exciting, and I can’t wait to get going.”

Pendrith was also the Canada Life Canadian Player of the Week a record six times (he received $2,500 for each award), and he will receive a $25,000 for finishing as top Canadian for the year.

“Canada Life has been a great supporter of the Tour for the last few years, and it’s an awesome little bonus for the Canadian players who compete out here,” said Pendrith. “They give a fantastic bonus. I won it in 2015 and (am) super honoured to win it again and be the top Canadian.”

Golf Canada joins the entire golf industry in mourning the passing of golf industry veteran Ian Webb. After a brave battle with cancer, Webb passed away Saturday, September 7th, 2019 at the age of 54. He is survived by his wife Helen as well as his daughters Gillian and Allison.

Webb, a respected member of the PGA of Canada and the Canadian Society of Club Managers, was Chief Operating Officer of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. Before that, he spent eight years as Credit Valley’s Director of Golf. He had also spent time working as a golf professional at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, Peterborough Golf and Country Club and Bridgewater Country Club in Fort Erie over the course of his distinguished career.

In March of 2019, Webb was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive form of brain cancer that took famed Canadian rocker Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip in October of 2017.

His impact on the game of golf in Canada and his industry peers has been significant. He has mentored several golf professionals who now hold Head Professional and Director of Golf positions in Western Canada, the United States and as far away as Thailand. Since his diagnosis, his fellow professionals and countless colleagues in the industry rallied around Webb with the hashtag #WebbyStrong on T-shirts and across social media as a tribute to their close friend.

The impact of Ian Webb has continued in force across a number of initiatives. The PGA of Canada renamed their national education program the Ian Webb Scholarship Fund in April 2019. The #WebbyStrong initiative online and through various activities has raised over $60,000 for the scholarship fund and for the Trillium Health Partners Foundation in Mississauga. As well, the members and staff of Credit Valley have donated over $75,000 to honour Webb with a memorial Verdin clock tower to be added to the practice area at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

Prior to his passing, Webb was also a driving force behind Credit Valley’s decision to host the 2019 Golf Fore the Cure National Event on September 23rd. The 144-player scramble tournament will welcome female golfers of all abilities from across the country in a fun golf event that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

On Wednesday, September 18th from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm Credit Valley Golf and Country Club will welcome its members, PGA of Canada Professionals and CSCM General Managers to share a story about Ian and toast to his impact, his legacy and love of the game.

If interested, donations to the Trillium Health Partners would be appreciated by the family.

TORONTO (September 12, 2019) –Golf Canada Foundation in partnership with Golf Canada are proud to announce that Gord Nixon has been named the 2019 recipient of the Legacy Award for exceptional contribution to the sport of golf in Canada. The award was presented to Nixon, the inaugural recipient, at Golf Canada Foundation’s signature annual donor event, the Trustee Cup on Monday, September 9.

A truly transformative leader in golf as former chief executive for RBC, Nixon led the resurgence of the RBC Canadian Open and an unprecedented investment in the sport across North America. More than $20 million was donated to charity through the RBC Canadian Open as well as the RBC Heritage during his tenure. RBC’s investment in the game also helped drive growth in Golf Canada’s National Team Program and was the catalyst for Team RBC—a roster of global ambassadors including Canadian and international stars on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.

“It was through Gord’s leadership that RBC set the groundwork to become the most invested corporate supporter of Canadian golf and it is deserving that his vision and commitment to the game be recognized with as our inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard. “It is special individuals like Gord, either as corporate leaders or philanthropic champions, that have truly made an impact through their investment in the game.”

Held at Nixon’s home course, Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto, Nixon was joined by PGA TOUR star and RBC Ambassador Graeme McDowell, along with more than 100 Foundation donors and 25 amateur and professional golfers representing Team Canada and all levels of the professional game including the Mackenzie Tour/PGA Tour Canada, Symetra Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA TOUR. The event raised more than $600,000 to support grassroots programs and develop the next generation of Canadian players.

Recipients of the Legacy Award, as selected by Golf Canada Foundation, are to be housed within the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum as “Golf Canada Foundation Legacy Honourees” ─ a separate distinction from those individuals inducted as “Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame” who are elected by the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

The 2019 Trustee Cup at Rosedale was the third iteration of Golf Canada Foundation’s signature fundraising event which was previously held at Calgary Golf and Country Club in 2018 and Memphremagog Golf Club in 2017.

One of Canada’s top championship-tested venues is ready to host the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s North Course plays host to nearly 100 PGA of Canada’s members and apprentice professionals Sept. 17-19. Located north of Toronto in Alton, Ont., the North Course has been the site of a PGA TOUR Canada-Mackenzie Tour for the past two years, as well as host qualifiers for the RBC Canadian Open and the U.S. Open.

“It’s going to be so very exciting taking our PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf to such a tried and tested venue like the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley,” said PGA of Canada President Mark Patterson. “This championship annually features some of the finest players in our association and this year is most certainly no different.”

Club de Golf Longchamp’s Marc-Etienne Bussieres looks to become the first player in the association’s history to win three-straight PGA Assistants’ Championships. He, however, will face one of the strongest fields this championship has ever seen with the entire top-five and 10 of the top 20 ranked players in the field at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

In addition to Bussieres, the stacked field includes:

• The PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player Bryn Parry
• This year’s PGA Championship of Canada winner Dustin Risdon
• Last year’s PGA Championship of Canada winner Pierre-Alexandre Bedard
• Past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners Billy Walsh and Brad Kerfoot
• Notable names such as Lee Curry, Dennis Hendershott, Oliver Tubb, John Shin, Wes Heffernan, Riley Fleming, Thomas Keddy, Kent Fukushima, Victor Ciesielski, Alf Callowhill and Yohann Benson

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley is the first TPC property in Canada features three golf courses all ranked in SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada list.

Designed by famed Canadian golf course architect Doug Carrick, the venue features a parkland-style layout that welcomes players with generous landing areas and naturally rolling fairways. While its width off the tee may be benevolent, deep greenside bunkers and undulating putting surfaces put a premium on approaching pins from the right angles, providing a challenge that rewards good shots but tests those who get out of position.

There will also be a 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone, which is contested over the first two rounds.

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. –  The PGA TOUR’s three international tours—PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China—will use a points-based system for its Orders of Merit, starting in 2020, the three Tours announced September 11. This will align these three Tours with the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour, which are both using points to measure players’ success. PGA TOUR Champions uses money earned by players for its regular season standings and then switches to a points-based standard when the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs begin.

The three international Tours are moving to this modified, consistent points system to assist fans and help avoid confusion with currencies used in the current Orders of Merit. Since their inceptions, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica has based its Order of Merit on the U.S. dollar, while the Mackenzie Tour has employed the Canadian dollar and PGA TOUR Series-China recognized the Chinese yuan.

“There has always been a bit of confusion among the three Tours regarding currency and the Orders of Merit, or money lists. This new format will streamline what we’re doing across the board and make it easier for fans to track player progress in a simple-to-understand way,” said Rob Ohno, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, International Tours. “In 2020, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica will be the first international Tour to start its season and debut the points system, and the other two tours will follow once their seasons begin.”

With the launch of the FedExCup in 2007, the PGA TOUR moved to a points-based system. The TOUR’s sole focus is on points as players vie to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and battle to win the FedExCup. In 2019, the 30th year of Korn Ferry Tour, the Tour changed to a points-based system, with PGA TOUR Series-China veteran Xinjun Zhang winning the regular season points title (1,962 points) and Scottie Scheffler winning the three-tournament Finals points title (1,267 points). Both players will be PGA TOUR members in 2019-20.

In 2020, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Series-China tournament winners will receive 500 points each, and an enhanced 600 points will go to the winners at the season-ending tournaments for all three Tours.

“We’re very excited for this new method. It will provide a uniformity among our Tours and give our fans a new way of easily tracking their favorite players on whichever Tour they are following,” Ohno continued. “After 13 successful years using FedExCup points on the PGA TOUR and an extremely positive debut using points on the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour, it convinces us even more that this change is the correct way to go.”

Only professionals playing in tournaments will be eligible to receive points as amateurs are not able to earn official money or points. When amateurs do make the cut at a tournament, those available points will be vacated and not distributed to remaining professionals.

In the event of ties—an inevitability at any tournament—points will be distributed to those players using the same method currently employed to distribute prize money—each tying position averaged and distributed evenly to each player in that tying position.

This is how the points will be distributed among the top-15 players at a given tournament (ties excluded):

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today that Rory McIlroy has been named the 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s membership for the 2018-19 season. McIlroy will receive the Jack Nicklaus Award for winning PGA TOUR Player of the Year for the third time in his career (2012, 2014, 2019).

Sungjae Im was voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and will receive the Arnold Palmer Award, renamed in 2019 as a tribute to its namesake’s influence on countless young players and a fitting honor for its recipients, who will shape the game and the PGA TOUR for generations to come.

PGA TOUR members who played at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2018-19 season were eligible to vote. The balloting process ended on September 6.

McIlroy, 30, of Holywood, Northern Ireland, won the FedExCup for the second time (2016, 2019), becoming just the second player to win the season-long race multiple times (Tiger Woods), and the first player to win THE PLAYERS Championship and the FedExCup in the same season. With three wins on the season (THE PLAYERS, RBC Canadian Open, TOUR Championship), McIlroy matched Brooks Koepka for the most on TOUR, and marked the third time he collected three or more victories in a single season. McIlroy also won the Byron Nelson Award for Adjusted Scoring Average (69.057) for the third time in his career and led the PGA TOUR in Top-10s (14) and Strokes Gained: Total (2.551).

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, my congratulations to Rory McIlroy on being voted the 2019 PGA TOUR Player of the Year by the TOUR’s membership,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “While there are a number of honors one can receive in this game, PGA TOUR Player of the Year has to be among the most satisfying as it comes directly from his peers. Rory’s season was a model of consistency punctuated by milestone victories and ultimately the FedExCup in Atlanta.”

One heck of a year, champ! Congrats to @McIlroyRory on being named the #PGATOUR’s 2018-19 Player of the Year! ????#LiveUnderPar #RBCCO pic.twitter.com/mluGMjWGId

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) September 11, 2019

After one start in the fall of 2018 (World Golf Championships/HSBC Champions), McIlroy opened the 2019 calendar year with top-sixes in his first five starts before winning THE PLAYERS for his 15th career PGA TOUR victory. He became only the third player to win THE PLAYERS, a major, the FedExCup and a World Golf Championships event in a career, joining Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson.

Six starts later, McIlroy made his tournament debut at the RBC Canadian Open, where he set the tournament record and won by seven shots, the largest winning margin of the season.

Three of McIlroy’s 14 top-10 finishes came at World Golf Championships events: Mexico Championship/2, Dell Technologies Match Play/T9 and FedEx St. Jude Invitational/T4.

McIlroy ended the PGA TOUR Regular Season at No. 2 in the FedExCup standings, claiming second place in the inaugural Wyndham Rewards Top 10, a $10 million bonus pool split among the top-10 finishers in the FedExCup Regular Season.

McIlroy entered the TOUR Championship at No. 5 in the FedExCup standings, beginning the FedExCup Playoffs finale at 5-under, based on the new FedExCup Starting Strokes system. With rounds of 66-67-68-66, McIlroy won the TOUR Championship and hoisted the FedExCup for the second time in his career.

McIlroy was selected for the honor over (alphabetically) Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar and Xander Schauffele.

Im, a 21-year-old native of Jeju, South Korea, was the only rookie to advance to the TOUR Championship and finished the season tied for 19th in the FedExCup standings. With his Rookie of the Year honors, Im joins Stewart Cink (1996-97) as the only players to be named the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year and PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons.

For the season, Im made 26 cuts in 35 starts, becoming the first rookie in the FedExCup era to play 35 or more events. He recorded seven top-10s, highlighted by three top-fives, with his best finish of the season coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where he tied for third.

See you next year, Rors! #RBCCO pic.twitter.com/Lq6vzGCXJU

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 10, 2019

“Congratulations to Sungjae on being voted 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year,” said Monahan. “His ‘Ironman’ season was remarkably consistent from start-to-finish, and his fellow players raved about his all-around game throughout the year. Like so many Korn Ferry Tour graduates, he arrived on the PGA TOUR prepared to compete with the world’s best, and his season was a reflection of a maturity beyond his 21 years.”

Im was selected for the honor over (alphabetically) Cameron Champ, Adam Long, Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff.