Date: September 28, 2016
Author: Martin Blake

Day, Scott nominated for player of year

Australia's top two male professionals have been nominated for the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award as the United States PGA Tour player of the year.

Following the conclusion of the Tour Championship in Atlanta last weekend there were six nominations, including world No. 1 Jason Day and Adam Scott.

American Dustin Johnson is the strong favorite to win the award, which will be determined by member vote over the next few weeks.

Day had a fine season which included a World Golf Championship win and the Players Championship at Sawgrass, although he withdrew from his final two tournaments with a back injury.

Scott won twice early in the season at the Honda Classic and the WGC Cadillac Championship, and ended up fourth in the Fedex Cup.

Emiliano Grillo, Smylie Kaufman and Si Woo Kim have been nominated for the PGA Tour rookie of the year award.

PLAYER OF YEAR NOMINEES

Jason Day, 28

Queensland, Australia; Columbus, Ohio

Entered 20 events with victories (3) at Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play and THE PLAYERS Championship.

Finished sixth in the FedExCup.

Finished second in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.313).

Recorded a total of 10 top-10 finishes with 19 made cuts.

Dustin Johnson, 32

Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Coastal Carolina University)

Entered 22 events with victories (3) at the U.S. Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and BMW Championship.

Finished second in the FedExCup.

Finished first on Official Money List to earn the Arnold Palmer Award.

Finished first in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.172) to earn the Byron Nelson Award.

Led the PGA TOUR with 15 top-10s, with 21 made cuts.

Rory McIlroy, 27

Holywood, Northern Ireland

Entered 18 events with victories (2) at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the TOUR Championship.

Finished first in the FedExCup.

Finished sixth in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.646).

Recorded a total of eight top-10 finishes with 15 made cuts.

With two FedExCup Playoffs victories in 2016, has now won four FedExCup Playoff titles, the most in FedExCup history.

Adam Scott, 36

Adelaide, Australia; Crans sur Sierre, Switzerland

Entered 20 events with victories (2) at The Honda Classic and the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

Finished fourth in the FedExCup.

Finished third in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.470).

Recorded a total of nine top-10 finishes with 20 made cuts.

Top-10 finishes in all four FedExCup Playoffs events in 2016: The Barclays (T4), Deutsche Bank Championship (4), BMW Championship (T4), TOUR Championship (T8).

Jordan Spieth, 23

Dallas, Texas (University of Texas)

Entered 21 events with victories (2) at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational.

Finished ninth in the FedExCup.

Finished fourth in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.520).

Recorded a total of eight top-10 finishes with 19 made cuts.

Henrik Stenson, 40

Gothenburg, Sweden; Orlando, Florida

Entered 14 events with one victory at The Open Championship.

Finished 36th in the FedExCup.

Finished seventh in Adjusted Scoring Average (69.828).

Recorded a total of four top-10 finishes with 10 made cuts.

Winning 264 total at The Open Championship broke the 72-hole total score in a major.

Silver medalist in the Men’s Olympic Golf competition in Rio.