Scottie Scheffler Seen as Clear Favorite for 2026 PGA Tour Player of the Year

During a press conference at Bellerive Country Club before the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy stated unequivocally that he does not consider himself a contender for the PGA Tour Player of the Year award. McIlroy’s comments came after Scheffler’s eight-stroke victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.

HeavyUSA Today

The Player of the Year award, voted on by PGA Tour members, has been dominated by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for the past four seasons. The award is typically decided after the FedEx Cup Playoffs, when the season’s statistical leaders and major winners are weighed. In 2026, the race is unusually tight, with multiple players posting strong win totals and high-profile victories.

USA Today

• Strokes Gained: Scheffler leads the tour in total strokes gained (2.374) and tee-to-green (1.694).

ESPN

• Scoring Average: 67.9, the lowest on the circuit.

ESPN

• Wins: Scheffler has two victories this season (the American Express in January and the St. Jude Championship).

USA Today

• Rory McIlroy emphasized that even a Masters-plus-Tour Championship double would not outweigh Scheffler’s consistency, noting his own 66th-place finish at St. Jude.

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• Viktor Hovland praised Scheffler’s steadiness, saying the player “hits the ball so well” and has “no weakness” on the greens.

ESPN

• Adam Scott questioned whether the award should prioritize statistical dominance or marquee victories, suggesting the outcome depends on individual voter values.

USA Today

• “I talk a lot about how hard it is and difficult it is to win out here on tour,” — Scottie Scheffler

ESPN

Sources differ on which players have the most wins this season. ESPN notes Scheffler’s two victories, while CBS Sports lists Chris Gotterup (three wins) and Matt Fitzpatrick (three wins) as having more. USA Today also mentions Cameron Young’s Players Championship win and Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open victory. No source provides a definitive ranking of win totals across all players, leaving the “most wins” metric ambiguous.

CBS Sports

The BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club is the next playoff event, followed by the season-ending Tour Championship. Voters will assess the final two weeks of play before casting ballots for the Player of the Year award.

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