It’s finally over. After four thousand days (at least, it felt that long), the 2014-2015 PGA Tour season has some to an end. Jordan Spieth put an exclamation mark on the season, winning The Tour Championship to clinch the FedEx Cup. We now get to take a break in the off season – a lengthy three weeks will take place between the Tour Championship and the start of the next PGA Tour season. Included in that three weeks is the Presidents Cup, so it’s fair to say that no one gets a break.
In order to quickly put an end to the 2014-2015 PGA Tour Season, it is time to reveal the VAVEL Year End Awards. Winners receive absolutely nothing.
Player Of The Year: Jordan Spieth
He put an end to all doubt by winning The Tour Championship, though there shouldn’t have been any doubt to begin with. Jason Day had a wonderful season, and in most seasons, he would have been a lock to be the Player Of The Year. This, however, was not most seasons. This was the Season Of Spieth, who won two majors and came within a few shots of winning them all. Oh, and he earned the most money ever in a PGA Tour season, returning home to Texas with a cool $22 million.
Comeback Player Of The Year: Davis Love III
For most of the season, this was Padraig Harrington’s award. Winning The Honda Classic after completely falling off the radar was an incredibly impressive feat. Still, it does not beat winning a golf tournament at the age of 51 after having several surgeries. Davis Love III could have retired from golf and no one would have blamed him. To keep going, grind it out on Tour, and win against players half his age deserves a special recognition.
Biggest Leap: Danny Lee
This award could easily be given to Rickie Fowler, but everyone always knew Fowler was good. Elevating yourself from very good to great is not nearly as impressive as what Lee did this season. He went from bouncing around from the Web.com Tour to the PGA Tour to looking like a future superstar. Lee began the season playing as much golf as he possibly could, only taking a break when he could not qualify for a tournament. By the end of the season, he was a PGA Tour winner, and he played his way into East Lake where he finished tied for second, next to the likes of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. He also played his way onto the Presidents Cup team, a goal of his entering this season. Danny Lee is a player who will pop onto a bunch of leaderboards in his career, and this was the season that began that rise.
Biggest Disappointment: Adam Scott
While the young guns picked up win after win this season, a few of the superstars of this decade started to fade away. Many will focus on Tiger Woods and his struggles, as well as Phil Mickelson, but players not quite as old and not quite as accomplished have also been left in the dust. Adam Scott is a perfect example. He only managed to notch three top 10’s this season, and wasn’t a factor in three out of four majors. He only played 15 times and he made it as far as the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs before bombing out. Scott not only had a disappointing season, but now he’s faced with the anchoring ban. Scott began this season putting with a traditional putter, but he switched back to the long putter after struggling on the greens. Scott will need to figure out something quickly if he wishes to continue being one of the best in the world.
Tournament (Non-Major) Of The Year: Valspar Championship
A great tournament with great drama and tons of big names in contention. The final came down to Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Sean O’Hair. Henrik Stenson missed the playoff by one shot. Danny Lee was in contention for the first time this season, and really began his rise in the rankings. 52 year old Vijay Singh made an appearance, and collected a top 10 on his way to making the FedEx Cup Playoffs. In the end, Spieth won by making a long birdie putt on the third playoff hole, which made him the overwhelming favorite to win the Masters. Everyone knows how that turned out.
Major Of The Year: Open Championship
This came down to process of elimination. Jordan Spieth’s dominating performance ushered in a superstar, but it did not make for a good tournament as there was no real reason to watch Sunday, unless you really wanted to Spieth put on the green jacket. As for the PGA Championship, while Spieth came close to Jason Day a couple times on Sunday, there was never a time when that tournament felt close. Spieth had to rely on Day giving it away. So, this award came down to the US Open and the Open Championship, both which came down to the very end. The US Open had everything you need to make a compelling tournament – a strong leaderboard, drama on the final hole – but it was missing one key ingredient – a good golf course. Based on the fact that Chambers Bay should be converted into a driving range, this award goes to the Open, which not only went into a playoff, but was played at the most historic golf course in the world.