Tiger named PGA TOUR Player of the Year
For the 11th time in his 18-year professional career, Tiger Woods has been selected PGA TOUR Player of the Year by his peers, it was announced Friday.
Tiger won five tournaments in 2013 — three more than any other player — including THE PLAYERS Championship and two World Golf Championships, captured the money title for the 10th time, won his ninth Vardon Trophy for adjusted scoring average, his 10th Byron Nelson Award and his 11th PGA of America Player of the Year, and finished second in the FedExCup Playoffs.
It also marked the 10th time Woods has won five or more tournaments in a year. The last time he accomplished the feat was in 2009. All told, he posted eight top-10 finishes in 16 starts and did not miss a cut.
“It’s just been a fantastic year all around,” Woods said. “It’s also an incredible feeling to be voted by your peers, and to have the that type of respect is very humbling.”
Tiger began the 2013 season by winning three of his first five events. In January, he pocketed the Farmers Insurance Open for the seventh time, then followed with his eighth victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and his seventh win in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The Arnold Palmer Invitational was especially significant because Woods regained No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since October 2010.
In May, Tiger collected his second career win in THE PLAYERS Championship. His final victory of the year came at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August, marking his eighth career triumph in the tournament.
“I’ve had to work my way back from injuries on numerous occasions throughout the years,” Woods said. “These last couple years is no exception to that. There were a lot of people saying I could never win again, and two years later I’ve got eight wins on our TOUR. I’m very proud of where I’ve come from, from being ranked outside the top 50 to being ranked where I am now, and to have had the success that I’ve had this year makes it all the more rewarding.”
Woods, 37, has now won 79 career events on the PGA TOUR. He ranks second all-time to Sam Snead, who has 82 victories.
