Columnist Peter Benton: Player of Year honors still up for grabs

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 | 9:31 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Shaun Micheel's surprise victory Sunday in our final major golf event of the year, the PGA Championship, was a deserving reward for a young man who proved his talent over the demanding Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.

It was again testament to the depth of professional golfers in the world today that on any given day, any one of the world's top 300 players are capable of winning. The talent out there is positively awesome.

This tournament did not, however, single out any one player in the incredibly tight race for Player of the Year honors, as no one golfer has, as yet, a clear-cut advantage for that prestigious title.

With three more World Golf Championships events and the Tour Championship still to be played, there are plenty of opportunities for players to build their 2003 resume.

Although voting by the players for Player of the Year will not take place until the conclusion of the season, listed below are eight notables who have played well enough to be included in any discussion about who may win the Jack Nicklaus Trophy:

The above are all very deserving nominees for Player of the Year honors, and another victory by any one of them, may, just may, give them the nod.