In mild surprise, Patrick Cantlay named 2020-21 PGA Tour Player of the Year by his peers

Patrick Cantlay’s year just got a little sweeter.

The 29-year-old was named 2020-21 PGA Tour Player of the Year on Tuesday after a vote by his peers, beating out fellow finalists Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Collin Morikawa and world No. 1 Jon Rahm, who was presumed to be the frontrunner after the PGA of America named him its Player of the Year last week.

Cantlay won four times during the Tour’s “super season,” including back-to-back triumphs during the Playoffs to clinch the FedEx Cup title. No other player won more than twice during the 2020-21 campaign.

Cantlay recorded seven top 10s in 24 starts, ranked third in SG: Total and fifth in scoring average (69.74).

Rahm, meanwhile, led the Tour in scoring average, topped the money list and ranked first in SG: Total. He also finished in the top eight in five of the six majors during the season, including his win at the U.S. Open.

This marked the third year in a row that the PGA Tour and PGA of America have named different POYs. Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy split the honors in 2019, while Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson did the same last year.

“Receiving this award through a member vote reflects the respect his peers have for Patrick,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “His play throughout 2020-21 was phenomenal, and in stepping up to win consecutive FedExCup Playoffs events and the FedExCup, Patrick was at his best when it mattered most in our season.”

Cantlay and Rahm’s years aren’t done yet. Each will play a starring role on opposing Ryder Cup teams at Whistling Straits next week.