Ian Poulter has been named the 36th winner of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, European Tour officials have announced. The 24-year-old from England becomes the first English winner since Jonathan Lomas in 1994.
Tony Jacklin (1963), Bernard Gallacher (1968), Peter Oosterhuis (1969), Sam Torrance (1972), Mark James (1976), Nick Faldo (1977), Sandy Lyle (1978), José Maria Olazábal (1986), Colin Montgomerie (1988), Per-Ulrik Johansson (1991), Thomas Björn (1996) and Sergio Garcia (1999) are among the outstanding players who have graduated from Rookie of the Year to Ryder Cup status.
Ian Poulter shows off his Italian Open trophies. Allsport.
Poulter, who earned his European Tour card after finishing 23rd at the Qualifying School Finals at San Roque Club last November, completed the year by capturing his maiden title, the Italian Open at Is Molas in Sardinia last month.
Coincidentally, the co-designer of Is Molas was the same Sir Henry Cotton after whom the Rookie of the Year award is named.
Poulter also finished third in the Brazil Sao Paulo 500 Years Open and tied for second in the Moroccan Open. He finished 31st on the Volvo Order of Merit with 447,506 euro (Ł259,126) to his name.
