Will there be a second straight PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award winner in his 30s?
We’re likely to find out right after the turn of the calendar. Eric Cole, 35, won the award last year. He was officially recognized on the Wednesday before the 2024 Sentry in Hawaii. Two of the finalists this year are in their 30s.
The PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award, like the Player of the Year, is determined by a member vote with Tour members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2024 season eligible to vote.
If you’re wondering why two-time winner Robert MacIntyre isn’t on this list, it’s because he’s not eligible. Despite this being his first full PGA Tour season — he played 25 times — golfers can’t win the rookie award if they played more than seven tournaments in a previous season. He made eight starts two seasons ago and 13 the season before that.
Below are the five players that the PGA Tour has identified as finalists.
Matthieu Pavon is presented the trophy after winning the 2024 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
When Pavon won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January, he became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour since 1907. He played in 19 events, made 15 cuts and recorded four top-10s. He’s made $5.25 million this season. Pavon, 31, tied for 12th at the Masters and finished solo fifth at the U.S. Open. He finished T-17 at the Tour Championship.
Nick Dunlap celebrates sinking a putt on the 18th green to win the 2024 American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, California. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun)
The week after Pavon won, Nick Dunlap became the first amateur since 1991 to win a PGA Tour event, claiming the American Express. Dunlap later won as a professional at the Barracuda Championship. Still 20, he played in 23 events in 2024 but missed eight cuts. He does have four top-10s and seven top-25s on the year. He’s earned $2.93 million in 2024. Dunlap was T-31 at the BMW Championship, meaning he just missed out on a top-30 spot for the Tour Championship.
Jake Knapp at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. (Stu Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal)
Knapp is the third of the final five to have won on the PGA Tour in 2024. Knapp got his maiden Tour win south of the border at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. In all, he played 22 events,…
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