Rory McIlroy and Tiger WoodsUMIT BEKTAS/Reuters
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were among five players nominated Monday for the PGA Tour player of the year award that will be voted on by their peers.
World number one McIlroy is the clear favourite after leading the tour with four wins, including an eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship.
He also won the Vardon Trophy and the US money title while also claiming the European money title, joining Luke Donald as the only players to top the earnings list in both Europe and the United States.
Woods, who captured three PGA Tour titles this year, is joined on the ballot by FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker, Masters champion Bubba Watson and Jason Dufner.
McIlroy has already picked up the PGA of America Player of the Year award and the Vardon Trophy. He finished with 100 points while Woods ended up with 66, Masters champion Watson and Dufner each totalled 50, Snedeker earned 36 and Kuchar 34.
McIlroy won the Vardon Trophy, first presented in 1937, with an adjusted scoring average of 68.87. Jim Furyk was second on 69.30 and Dufner third (69.45).
The five candidates for rookie of the year are John Huh, Sweden's Jonas Blixt, Charlie Beljan, Ted Potter Jr. and Bud Cauley, the only rookie contender not to win this year.
Huh is the only rookie who qualified for the Tour Championship.
PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official money events in 2012 are eligible to vote, with the results to be announced in early December.