McIlroy and Sheffler headline PGA Tour player of the year nominees

Tommy Fleetwood and Ben Griffin also nominated

Rory McIlroy holds the trophy at the Masters in Augusta, last April. Picture: David J Phillip/AP

Rory McIlroy, who secured a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, and Scottie Scheffler, with two majors among six titles this year, were nominated for the Jack Nicklaus Award given to the PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Tommy Fleetwood, who won the Tour Championship in August to capture the FedExCup and its $10m reward, and Ben Griffin, a three-time winner in 2025, were the other two Player of the Year nominees, the PGA Tour said on Wednesday.

World number one Scheffler recorded a PGA Tour-best 17 top-10s in 2025 and did not miss a cut while bringing his career major tally to four with the US PGA Championship and Open Championship at Royal Portrush that left him a US Open triumph away from becoming only the seventh golfer to complete the career Grand Slam.

Scottie Scheffler celebrates winning The Open Championship with the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho

McIlroy picked up three titles in 2025, the biggest at Augusta National in April where he won a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose to snap an 11-year major drought on a course where he had endured plenty of heartbreak.

South African Aldrich Potgieter and Australian Karl Vilips were nominated for the Arnold Palmer Award, given to the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, along with Americans Michael Brennan, Steven Fisk and William Mouw.

Both awards are determined by a vote of PGA Tour members, with those who have played at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2025 season eligible to vote. The ballot closes on December 12 and winners will be announced at a later date.

Reuters