PGA Tour Monday qualifier’s required car headlights to finish in the dark

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR today announced nominees for the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season Player of the Year (Jack Nicklaus Award) and Rookie of the Year (Arnold Palmer Award), as finalized by the PGA TOUR Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC). The nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award as the 2022 PGA TOUR Player of the Year are (alphabetically) Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Smith. The nominees for the 2022 Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year are Tom Kim, Sahith Theegala and Cameron Young. The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA TOUR members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2021-22 season eligible to vote. The voting will close on Friday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. ET. The winners will be announced at a later date. Player of the Year nominees (alphabetical) Rory McIlroy, 33 Holywood, Northern Ireland • Entered 16 events with victories (3) at THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT, RBC Canadian Open and TOUR Championship • 2022 FedExCup Champion; First player to win the FedExCup three times (others: 2016, 2019) • Led the PGA TOUR in Scoring Average (68.670), the lowest on TOUR since Tiger Woods in 2009 (68.670) • Recorded a total of 10 top-10s and made 14 cuts Scottie Scheffler, 26 Dallas, Texas • Entered 25 events with victories (4) at the WM Phoenix Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and Masters Tournament • Finished No. 2 in the FedExCup • Finished fourth in Scoring Average (69.293) • Recorded a total of 11 top-10s and made 21 cuts Cameron Smith, 29 Brisbane, Australia • Entered 18 events with victories (3) at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, THE PLAYERS Championship and The Open Championship • Finished No. 20 in the FedExCup • Finished second in Scoring Average (69.203) • Recorded a total of seven top-10s and made 15 cuts Rookie of the Year nominees (alphabetical) Tom Kim, 20 Seoul, South Korea • Entered 11 events with a victory at the Wyndham Championship and additional top-10s at the Genesis Scottish Open (3rd) and Rocket Mortgage Classic (7th) • Finished No. 35 in the FedExCup • Recorded a total of six top-25s and made 10 cuts • Joined the PGA TOUR as a Special Temporary Member after The Open Championship Sahith Theegala, 24 Chino Hills, California • Entered 32 events with five top-10s, highlighted by a T2 at the Travelers Championship and T3 at the WM Phoenix Open • Qualified for the TOUR Championship and finished No. 28 in the FedExCup • Recorded a total of 11 top-25s and made 26 cuts Cameron Young, 25 Scarborough, New York • Entered 25 events with seven top-10s, including five runner-up finishes • Finished second at the Sanderson Farms Championship, The Genesis Invitational, Wells Fargo Championship, The Open Championship and Rocket Mortgage Classic • Qualified for the TOUR Championship and finished No. 19 in the FedExCup • Recorded a total of 12 top-25s and made 18 cuts

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LA QUINTA, Calif. – USC freshman Charlie Reiter missed the Desert Classic’s cut by a shot, but he made some history before departing from his hometown event. Reiter shot 63 to set the tournament course record at PGA West’s Stadium Course. It’s also believed to be the second-lowest round by an amateur in TOUR history. Only Patrick Cantlay’s 60 in the 2011 Travelers Championship was lower. Reiter played his first 36 holes this week in 1 over par but made eight birdies and an eagle Saturday (as well as one bogey). He hit a 227-yard 5-iron to 12 feet to make 3 on the Stadium Course’s par-5 fifth hole. “I was just trying to make as many birdies as I could,� Reiter said. “Every time I made a birdie, I was just trying to make one more and get closer and closer to the cut.� He finished at 8-under 208 (75-70-63). This is the second consecutive year that Reiter, an alum of nearby Palm Desert High, has played the Desert Classic. A 77 on the Stadium Course last year ended his chances of making the 54-hole cut. He started the third round in 67th place. He shot 215 (68-70-77) last year. Reiter, 19, led the field in driving distance this week, averaging 319 yards per tee shot. He is 69th in Golfweek’s individual college rankings. He has already made the cut in one pro event, finishing T65 at the 2017 Australian Open. He earned a spot in that event by winning a junior tournament supported by PGA TOUR player Aaron Baddeley.

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SAN DIEGO – Rory McIlroy is making his debut at the Farmers Insurance Open, but this isn’t the first time he’s played in San Diego. Every year, the world’s elite junior players flock to the area to compete in the Junior World Championships. The oldest contestants play Torrey Pines’ South Course while younger players compete on courses throughout the area. McIlroy fit into the latter group when he played the Junior World. He competed on Presidio Hills, a par-3 course in San Diego, in the 10-and-under division. He didn’t win, but it was an eventful week. “I actually made a hole-in-one that week,� McIlroy said Wednesday. “And I remember the opening ceremonies, I got my picture with Earl Woods, which was pretty cool at the time.� McIlroy finished eighth in the 10-and-under division of the 1999 Junior World Championship. His 54-hole total of 164 (57-55-52) was 12 shots behind winner Philip Francis, who went on to win the 2006 U.S. Junior in nearby Rancho Santa Fe and play on UCLA’s 2008 NCAA title team. Tony Finau tied McIlroy that week. McIlroy, the 2016 FedExCup champion, is making his second consecutive start at a new PGA TOUR event. He opened the calendar year with a fourth-place finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. It was the 10th time in the past 11 years that McIlroy started with a top-5 in his first event. It was also the seventh consecutive time that he failed to win after playing in Sunday’s final group. He started the final round at Kapalua three shots behind Gary Woodland. FedExCup leader Xander Schauffele shot 62 to pass them both. McIlroy finished eight back after shooting 72. “I’m committed to the journey of getting to a point where that’s not a conversation anymore,� McIlroy said. He’ll try to end that narrative at another new course. McIlroy turned pro in late 2007, but he was unsuccessful in his attempt to qualify for the following year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He usually plays in the Middle East during this time of year, but is focusing on the PGA TOUR this season. “I like coming to new golf courses, the process of learning them, what you’re hitting off tees, good angles coming into the greens, what side to miss on, all that stuff,� said McIlroy, who’s 82nd in this season’s FedExCup standings. “It’s been a pretty productive three days.� He’ll play the first two rounds with Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott. They’re scheduled to tee off at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday on the South Course. “I feel like I’ve watched this tournament a lot on TV, whether it be the U.S. Open or this tournament over the years,� McIlroy said. “I’ve alluded to the fact that I want to play in the strongest possible tournaments each and every week. I’m happy to be here because of that.�

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