Jordan Spieth is Top Player, Daniel Berger is Top Rookie on PGA Tour

By Kathlene Bissell | Oct 2, 2015

While some believed there was actually a question as to who would win in the PGA Tour Player of the Year vote, there was realistically only one choice: Jordan Spieth.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem summed up Spieth’s accomplishments in a conference call to announce PGA Tour Player of the Year as Jordan Spieth and Tour Rookie of the Year as Daniel Berger. Both players participated and took questions.

"“Jordan captivated our fan base throughout a truly historic season including the FedEx Cup and five victories, two major championships and near misses at the two others,” Finchem said during the call. “Thanks to his phenomenal season long performance and a victory at the Tour Championship by Coca Cola he became the youngest ever FedEx Cup champion at the age of 22.”"

Spieth responded as we all knew he would.

“It’s an honor, because to win Player of the Year, because it was our MVP of our league and it’s voted on by the players,” Spieth said. “For them to recognize the hard work that we’ve put in and what we’ve been able to do with it is truly special and I thank all the players I look up to. I’ve got great role models ahead of me that have helped me.”

Read More about Jordan Spieth’s Approach to Golf & Life

Berger is a 2014 Web.com Tour graduate and Finchem piled the praise on him?

"“He (Berger) put an exclamation point on his first season on the PGA Tour, as the only rookie (this season) to make it all the way through the FedEx Cup playoffs.”"

Berger took the appropriate bow:

“I’m just honored to receive such a prestigious award, especially being recognized by the peers on the PGA Tour that we compete day in and day out with,” Berger said.

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Finchem also listed the additional awards Spieth garnered this season:

Spieth is the youngest player since Gene Sarazen in 1922 to win two major championships. He also won the both the PGA Tour Byron Nelson Award and the Vardon Trophy, which is presented by the PGA of America, for low scoring average. As leading money winner, he will receive the Arnold Palmer Award, and as Player of the Year, he earned the Jack Nicklaus Award.

“When you listed the accomplishments for the year I just kind of sat back and was able to kind of soak it in a little bit,” Spieth said. “You don’t recognize it, I guess, as the year goes on, and when you kind of look at it and review you can see exactly what we’ve done.”

It seems like a lot for a 22-year-old, and even Spieth admitted his 2015 was bigger than he thought it could be until it happened.

“We had great years in ’13 and ’14. But still nothing was necessarily pointing to two majors or some more wins in the year,” he said. “My goals were to try to win two to three times on the Tour this year, as well as compete and be in contention in at least two majors, make the cut in all four.”

He also wanted to make the Presidents Cup, but noted that taking care of the first goals would get him on the team.

“I’m obviously most proud of the two (major) wins, but also extremely proud of taking those two wins into the last two and not giving up, continuing to play our best golf,” he added.

He also said he was disappointed about his play at the end of the British Open.

“And really, in my mind, should have won The Open Championship had I played the last two holes like we battled that week,” he added, “but unfortunately missed a putt on 17 and didn’t play 18 the right way. And then ran into a buzz saw in Jason Day at the PGA. Our best stuff was there. It certainly exceeded the expectations in the major championships.”

Spieth called the year adventurous.

“On and off the course, the craziness that comes with what happened after Augusta, I think partially given my age for the Masters and U.S. Open, and just the craziness. You can’t go into a restaurant without taking pictures,” he said. “Being recognized in the non-golf community, really non-golf crowd, just any sports fan now, is kind of the adjustment.”

Berger said he would characterize 2015 as exciting.

“With this being my first year out there and having the opportunity to play against the best players in the world each week, getting the opportunity to play in two majors was incredible,” he explained. “I think probably my fondest memory would be the Honda Classic, playing well in the final round and having a chance to win.”

Berger is looking forward to getting an early start to the 2015-16 season.

Spieth is playing in the Presidents Cup, then the HSBC China, Australian Open, Hero World Challenge and then the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Next: Is J.B. Holmes Really the Best Replacement for Jim Furyk?

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