2013 Golf: Tiger Woods Wins 2013 Vardon Trophy

Although we have seen Tiger Woods struggle since the PGA Championship, the fact still remains that he did win five tournaments in 2013, and will undoubtedly win some awards for his performance this year. The first of the year-ending awards were announced today with the Vardon Trophy as his first of what will more than like be many awards. The PGA of America provides the Vardon Trophy and is for the PGA Tour player with lowest overall “Stroke Average”.The latest Vardon Trophy will be Tiger’s tenth of his illustrious career, and first since 2009 for a scoring average of 68.99. Rory McIlroy won this award in 2012, and Tigers closest suitor is Lee Trevino who won the title five times, with his last coming in 1980.

The first Vardon Trophy was awarded in 1937, and was given based on a point system. In 1947 the system was changed to represent the lowest stroke average of a player during the year. Harry Cooper won the first points system, and Jimmy Demaret won the 1947 award with a stroke average of 69.90.

The other awards that Tiger Woods is expected to win this week on the PGA Tour are the Money Title with $8,553,439 dollars, and possibly the PGA Player of the Year. His five wins were all quality wins, especially those that include the Players, The WGC Cadillac, and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The only contention for his POY of the year is being hottly debated because none of his victories included a major championship.

Tiger was nipped for the Scoring Average Title by his buddy, Steve Stricker. The Lowest Adjusted Scoring Average is given to the player with the lowest adjusted scoring average for the year, and is called The Byron Nelson Award. Steve Stricker beat out Tiger by .040 points. Rory McIlroy also won this award in 2012.