Stuart Appleby voted PGA Comeback Player of the Year
Stuart Appleby was named the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year this week. Even though the majority of the players didn’t want to vote for a comeback player this year, the tour commissioner, Tim Finchem thought differently. Finchem placed three names under
the comeback of the year category and after the players voting, Appleby was the winner. Along with Appleby, Arjun Atwal and Rocco Mediate were the nominees.
This Australian player didn’t have a great season in 2009. Ever since his first year 1996, Stuart had never finished outside the top 125. However, 2009 was different when Appleby finished 137th on the money list. Utilizing his onetime top 25 career
money list exemption on the Tour this year, Appleby showed everyone that he still has the skills.
The player posted a final round 59 at the Greenbrier Classic and took his ninth PGA Tour career title. The three birdies Stuart posted on the last three holes truly stunned the crowd. He was the first player from outside of America to post such a score and
only the fifth player to ever post the lowest score recorded in any PGA round. Ever since 2006, Stuart had not one better than a 65 even after 358 rounds. Before 2006, his lowest score was recorded at Las Vegas in 2003 when he carded 62. His win at Greenbrier
Classic ended a four year winless draught of the player as he defeated Jeff Overton by one stroke.
He also won the JBWere Masters in Australia in November after shooting a 10 under 274 at the Victoria Golf Cub. Thanks to the two wins this year, Stuart is currently 38th on Money list. From 137th to 38th, that surely is
an amazing comeback for Stuart who turns 40 next May.
As for the other nominees, Arjun Atwal was the first player from India to ever win a PGA event. Winning the Wyndham Championships only three weeks after Stuart’s Greenbrier victory, Atwal claimed his first US PGA title. Arjun had lost his tour card the previous
month since he wasn't able to make enough money to sustain his medical exemption. The win at Wyndham provided the Indian player with a two year tour exemption.
Despite Arjun’s hard work, Stuart definitely made the best comeback and was deserving of the PGA Comeback Player of the Year award for 2010. "Stuart showed great perseverance in returning to the winner's circle at the Greenbrier Classic in a historic manner,"
said Finchem about Appleby.
Tags: