Tour News
Who will win PGA Tour Rookie of the year honors?
The PGA Tour released the list of nominees for Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year on Monday. Members of the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors nominated Charlie Beljan, Jonas Blixt, Bud Cauley, John Huh and Ted Potter Jr. for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Surely, Rory McIlroy is the presumptive winner of the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year Award. However, in determining who they will cast their ballots for, players have more to consider for the Rookie of the Year Award, although I believe John Huh to be the favorite, even given Charlie Beljan’s commendable and widely publicized victory at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic last Sunday.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
Without further ado, the nominees are…
Charlie Beljan
Age: 28
Education: University of New Mexico
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
Best Finish: 1—CMN Hospital Classic
Wins: 1
Starts: 22
Cuts: 9
Top 10’s: 3
Money List: 63
Notable stats: Beljan was second this year in average driving distance (315.5 yards).
The apparent adrenaline junkie (Beljan is a motorcycle enthusiast and aspires to be strapped to the wing of a plane) had more of the hormone than he could handle during his second round at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Classic. Although convinced he was dying, Beljan persevered on his way to a two-shot victory. If he has any chance of winning this award, it is purely a function of the admiration his colleagues have for him following the performance.
Jonas Blixt
Age 28
Education: Florida State
Hometown: Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Best Finish 1–Frys.com Open
Wins: 1
Starts: 21
Cuts: 15
Top 10’s: 5
Money List: 34
Notable Stats: Second on tour in Strokes Gained – Putting, First in Sand Save Percentage
Winner of the Frys.com Open, Blixt earned $1.2 million during the Fall Series alone. He was second to only John Huh (22 of 28) in cuts made by a rookie this year. Blixt earned his tour card with a No. 5 finish on the Web.com Tour last year. Finished 71st in the FedEx Cup, thus narrowly missing out on the Playoffs.
Objectively, Blixt had the second best rookie year behind John Huh, who bested him in cuts made and earnings.
Bud Cauley
Age: 22
Education: University of Alabama
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
Best Finish: 3
Wins: 0
Starts: 28
Cuts: 21
Top 10’s: 6
Money List: 44
Notable Stats: 6th in sand save percentage. Made 10 of his last 11 cuts.
Cauley, like only a handful of players, earned his Tour card directly out of college (top 125 on the 2011 PGA Tour non-member money list) and secured his first top 10 in only his fourth start. The Daytona Beach native is the only player selected for the Rookie of the Year shortlist without a win; Cauley’s best finish was 3rd at the Wyndham Championship; he finished the season No. 38 in the FedEx Cup standings.
The son of a U.S. Navy officer and Birdies for the Brave supporter finished the season strong and has a promising future in front of him. Without a win, though, there’s no way he gets this award when the other four candidates were all victorious.
John Huh
Age: 22
Education: University of California-Northridge
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Best Finish: 1–Mayakoba Classic
Wins: 1
Starts: 28
Cuts: 22
Top 10’s: 4
Money List: 28
Notable Stats: 11th in Driving Accuracy. 25th in total driving. 7th in total birdies.
Huh made it through Q-School in 2011 having never played an event on the PGA or Web.com tours. His eight-hole playoff with Robert Allenby at the Mayakoba Classic was one of the longest in Tour history. Huh’s win at that tournament came in only his fifth PGA Tour start.
The New York native was the top-earning rookie in 2012 and was the only rookie to make it to the Tour Championship. With a total of four top-10s and a gritty victory, the Rookie of the Year Award is likely his.
Ted Potter Jr.
Age: 29
Education: Turned pro after high school
Hometown: Silver Springs, Fla.
Best Finish: 1–Greenbriar Classic
Wins: 1
Starts: 25
Cuts: 13
Top 10’s: 1
Money List: 62
Notable Stats: First in GIR Percentage – 150-175 yards. Eighth in putting from 5-10 feet.
The only left-hander nominated for Rookie of the Year, Potter won in West Virginia at the Greenbrier Classic in a playoff over Troy Kelly. Prior to the win, Potter had missed five consecutive cuts. Potter, who worked in the cart barn at a club in Florida to save up money for the Moonlight Tour, won $1.3 million on Tour this year.
Even with a victory, Potter doesn’t have a chance of winning the Rookie of the Year Award.
Players who competed in 15 or more Tour events in 2012 vote by ballot for the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. The final day for ballot submission is Nov. 30, and the award will be given in early December. Recent winners have included Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler and Brandt Snedeker.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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