Coming off a season in
which he led the Senior Tour in victories and earnings, Larry
Nelson today received the Jack Nicklaus Award after being voted
Player of the Year by his fellow peers.
Doug Tewell claimed Rookie of the Year honors, while Raymond
Floyd took home the Comeback Player of the Year award.
In just his third full season on the Senior Tour, Nelson won a
tour-high six tournaments, including four in a five-tournament
stretch from late August to late September.He posted 23 top-10
finishes overall, including seven runner-up finishes, and led
the Senior Tour with a record 59 rounds in the 60s.
Nelson, 53, also collected the Arnold Palmer Award as the
leading money winner after amassing a career-high $2,708,005.
"I had several good years on the PGA Tour, but this, without a
doubt, is my most satisfying year in golf," said Nelson, a
former U.S. Open champion."To be voted by your peers as Player
of the Year is quite an honor."
Former Players of the Year Hale Irwin and Bruce Fleisher were
the other finalists for the award.
Tewell, 51, claimed three titles in his initial season on the
Senior Tour, including the PGA Seniors' Championship in April.
He is the 10th player in history to make his first win a
Senior major.He posted nine top-10 finishes and finished eighth
on the money list with $1,408,194.
Tom Kite and Tom Watson were the other finalists for Rookie of
the Year honors.
Floyd captured his first major championship, and first title, in
four years at the Senior Players' Championship.At age 57
years, 10 months and 12 days, Floyd became the oldest player in
Senior Tour history to win a major.He finished 26th on the
money list with $717,258.
David Lundstrom and Lee Trevino were the other finalists for the
award.
