Comeback Player of the Year Award Change

[RPMPIRE]

Looks like the tour has changed the conditions for winning the "Comeback Player of the Year Award."

Now it will be awarded to a player who " who through courage and perseverance has overcome extraordinary adversity, such as a personal tragedy or debilitating illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to the game of golf."

Here's the article: Comeback Player Change

[iacas]

Nobody is on the ballot for this in 2012.

Which seems dumb to me.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by iacas

Nobody is on the ballot for this in 2012.

Which seems dumb to me.

I agree...I think the tour felt they needed to change it after Stricker won back to back years- they should have left it as is and given it to whoever had the best comeback season.  It seems like they could have a separate award for most inspirational or something along those lines instead of the change they are trying to make.

In addition to Woods, I think Ben Curtis had a nice comeback season this year- notching his first win since 2006 and going from 149th last year to 30th on the $ list this season.

Another interesting comeback story is 4 time winner Duffy Waldorf who came back from knee problems/surgery- only 4 events and 1 made cut in 2008, no events in 2009, 1 event in 2010 and only 5 made cuts in 14 events PGA in 2011 (and 2 of 7 on the NW).  This year he made 8 of 11 cuts on the PGA Tour, had 2 top 10s on the Web.com Tour and 3 top 10s (including a solo 2nd) in 5 Champions Tour starts.  Total earnings for 2012 was 545 K compared to under 100 K for the previous 4 years combined.

[jamo]

No one won it last year either, or in 2009, but those are the only two years since 1990 that no one has won. That's stupid.

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by jamo

No one won it last year either, or in 2009, but those are the only two years since 1990 that no one has won. That's stupid.

agree with you but suspect that there will be fewer winners going forward with the new definition.

[uttexas]

Under the new definition/conditions, Casey Martin qualifying for the 2012 US Open would have received my vote. If the comeback player requires a PGA tour card; Ernie Els (Autism foundation) JB Holmes (brain surgery) Snedeker (hip surgery) Woods (recovering from hazardous swing) might have been good choices.

[Valleygolfer]

I find this somewhat of a dumb move. Why not just create a new one that is not a yearly thing but a deserving award when appropriate.