McIlroy or Fowler for rookie of the year?

McIlroy or Fowler for rookie of the year?

Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are the leading candidates for this year's Rookie of the Year award.’ So says Stan Awtrey who then proceeds to present his case for Rickie Fowler.

It sounds like Stan’s on shaky ground from the outset when he writes, ‘The win column is the only thing that's empty from Rickie Fowler’s first full season on the PGA TOUR...That shouldn't stop him from winning this year's Rookie of the Year award.’

To support his preference for Rickie, Stan mentions what could be the crucial factor in determining the decision. ‘Even if Fowler doesn't win this year, he should still be the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year. He's been the most consistent and persistent rookie on a week-to-week basis.’

‘Week-to-week’, in other words more regular appearances, may well be an important consideration in the selection process. But I can’t confirm this because nowhere on Google could I find The Players Advisory Council’s criteria or process for the Rookie of the Year award. And for the record, year-to-date, it’s 26 PGA Tour events for Rickie against only 16 for Rory.

What I did discover was that the Council could not commit to a Comeback Player of the Year Award for 2009. And the mind boggles with delight at the, albeit unlikely scenario of Tiger receiving the award for 2011. Should he win a couple of the big ones next year.

From what I’ve been told the award is usually given to someone who’s returned to form after an illness or injury. Or a person who has impressed his peers by performing well after a slump.And I guess it all depends on how they define ‘slump’. However given Tiger’s high-performance expectations, 2010 must be seen by him as something of a slump

Coming back to the case of Fowler versus McIlroy I have to write that I’m most impressed by the fact that there does not appear to be an American bias.

In the last four years, three non-Americans have won the Rookie of the Year award. Aussie Marc Leishman in 2009, Argentinian Andres Romero in 2008 and South African Trevor Immelman in 2006.

Quoting Stan Awtrey’s own words in my support of Rory, ‘The lad from Northern Ireland won almost as much money as Fowler ($2.55 million, which ranks No. 26 on the TOUR compared to Fowler at No. 23) and actually won an event, the Wells Fargo Classic, with a final-round 62 that enabled him to pass Phil Mickelson.

No doubt that 62 is one of the signature moments of the year and will be hard for voters to ignore.’

And I rest my case with Rory’s major championship record-equaling round of 63 at The Open. And for those who still doubt Rory’s remarkable Rookie qualities.

If courage and persistence is the measure of a man who would be, should be, Rookie of the Year. Then Rory’s rounds of 69, 68 following his disastrous second round should win him the right to the title of Rookie of the Year for 2010

-Stan Sutherland