Who should be voted 2020 European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’?
For a first time in many years, the ‘Rookie of the Year’ will be decided by a committee comprising two members of the Tournament Committee and two members of the Tour’s Executive.
In past years, it has been decided by who finished higher-up on the Race to Dubai rankings following the close of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Last year, it was Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre winning the one-time only award.
The decision to go back to a committee has come about by the impact of Covid-19, which includes lower Race to Dubai points being available, members in the U.S. not travelling to events as intended due to quarantine issues, the repositioning of Major Championships and the revision of the qualification process into the U.S. Open, all of which have impacted on the opportunities for a broad range of members.
As well, for this year the European Tour has also done away with condition you must have played a minimum of 15 events which seems understandable in this COVID-19 hit year.
Collin Morikawa – 2020 US PGA Champion and front-running for 2020 European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’
Dane Rasmus Hogaard, 19 captures the second of two victories this year in Europe with victory at the UK Championship
However, that brings into the equation American and U.S. PGA winner Collin Morikawa but the big argument against Morikawa,and though he is clearly eligible, is that he’s contested just five European Tour counting events and not one on European soil.
Does the committee choose Morikawa who captured the US Open or reward 19-year old sensation and European Rasmus Hojgaard and ‘home’ European player?
Here is the list of those in line for 2020 ‘Rookie of the Year’ and starting with the current Race to Dubai ranking.
No. 3 – Collin Morikawa (USA) – 2020 US PGA champion
No. 13 – Rasmsus Højgaard (Norway) – 2020 AFRASIA Bank Mauritius Open and ISPS HANDA UK Championship champion.
No. 18 – Sami Valimaki (Finland) – 2020 Oman Open.
No. 24 – Antoine Rozner (France) – Golf in Dubai Championship winner and becoming the fastest French player to earn a victory on the European Tour in just 24 events.
