by Jeff Skinner
As millions of golfers put their clubs in hibernation until next spring there is still plenty of golf to be decided. Well, not on the course, but golf just the same. Its awards season and as the PGA Tour membership decides it yearend awards, Links Life Golf will get a jump on them with the announcement today of our Rookie of the Year.
The PGA Tour ballot for Rookie of the Year includes Charlie Beljan, Jonas Blixt, Bud Cauley, John Huh and Ted Potter Jr. All but Cauley have a win on their resume this season and even though Cauley had a good year with six top tens a win trumps that easily. So in my book that knocks Cauley out of the running.
All the remaining candidates did indeed earn a PGA Tour win and with it all the trimmings but only Potter’s at The Greenbrier was a full field, regular season, non-opposite field event. But that was Potter’s only top ten of the season. Both Beljan (Disney) and Blixt (Frys) won their events during the Fall Season when, despite The PGA Tour protestations, the events carry less weight then regular season events.
Huh’s win was at the opposite field Mayakoba Golf Classic, while the top 64 golfers in the world were at the WGC Match Play Championship. Huh, carded four top tens only topped by Blixt with five.
But while the Fall Series wins may be fresher in our minds it was John Huh who truly had the better season. Huh led all the candidates in Fed Ex Cup points, World Ranking and that all important category, Cash Money (as they say).
Huh finished the season 25th in Fed Ex Cup points, 68th in World Ranking and earned $2.69 million, not bad for a Q-School Graduate rookie.
More importantly, Huh showed the game and consistency all during the regular season and he proved it by being the only rookie to qualify for the season ending Tour Championship. That makes it a no-brainer. Huh got it done during the regular season, when all the big boys are playing and earned more points than any other rookie. With the PGA Tour placing all its focus on the Playoffs and the Tour Championship when Huh stood on the practice range at East Lake he was the lone rookie in the ranks. That makes him a slam dunk for Links Life Golf Rookie of the Year.
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