PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 7 -- Coming off a season in which he led the Senior Tour in victories and earnings, Larry Nelson received the Jack Nicklaus Award Thursday after being voted Player of the Year by his fellow peers.
Doug Tewell claimed Rookie of the Year honors, while Raymond Floyd took home the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
In his third full season on the Senior Tour, the 53-year-old Nelson won a tour-high six tournaments, including four in a five-tournament stretch from late August to late September. He posted 23 top-10 finishes overall, was a runnerup seven times, and led the Senior Tour with a record 59 rounds in the 60s.
Nelson also collected the Arnold Palmer Award as the leading money-winner after amassing a career-high $2,708,005.
"I had several good years on the PGA Tour, but this, without a doubt, is my most satisfying year in golf," said Nelson, a former U.S. Open champion. "To be voted by your peers as Player of the Year is quite an honor."
Former Players of the Year Hale Irwin and Bruce Fleisher were the other finalists for the award.
Tewell, 51, claimed three titles in his initial season on the Senior Tour, including the PGA Seniors Championship in April. He is the 10th player in history to make his first win a Senior major. He posted nine top-10 finishes and finished eighth on the money list with $1,408,194.
He beat out Tom Kite and Tom Watson for rookie honors.
Floyd captured his first major championship and first title in four years at the Senior Players Championship. At age 57 years, 10 months and 12 days, Floyd became the oldest player in Senior Tour history to win a major. He finished 26th on the money list with $717,258.
The other Comeback finalists were David Lundstrom and Lee Trevino.
