Morikawa, Korda, Mickelson win GWAA Player of the Year honors

Collin Morikawa, Nelly Korda and Phil Mickelson were named 2021 Players of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America.

Morikawa captured the men’s honor, gaining 48 percent of the vote to edge out Jon Rahm (37 percent). The 24-year-old won three times in 2021, highlighted by winning the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s for his second career major. Morikawa also won the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title thanks to coming out on top at the DP World Tour Championship in November. Morikawa finished the year with 13 top-10s in 24 global starts and went 3-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut to help the Americans defeat Team Europe.

“It is an incredible honor to be named by the Golf Writers Association of America as their Male Player of the Year for 2021,” Morikawa said in a statement. “I have a deep appreciation for the journalists dedicated to promoting our great game, and to be recognized amongst the names of past winners is humbling.”

Korda ran away as the women’s POY winner, garnering 72 percent of the vote. She won four times on the LPGA in 2021, including her first major championship at the ​​KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Korda also took home the gold medal from the women’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics, was a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team and reached World No. 1 for the first time in her career.

"It is a huge honor and privilege to be voted Female Player of the Year,’’ Korda said. “I am extremely grateful to be the recipient of this year's award alongside all the other incredible past honorees. Thank you to the entire team at the Golf Writers Association of America. It truly means a lot to me to receive this recognition and it will be something I will forever cherish."

Mickelson, who never won the men’s POY award in his illustrious career, earned the senior's top spot. Along with his historic triumph at the PGA Championship in May the 51-year-old won four times in six Champions starts in the circuit’s superseason.

“I’m very appreciative of that honor,” Mickelson said. “I had a really fun time playing some Champions tour events and last year was a really special year, obviously winning the PGA Championship and playing and competing in the Champions tour events, and having success was really special. Being able to spend time with so many guys that I grew up playing with, I’m just honored.”

The Golf Writers Association of America is a non-profit members organization, and the only American organization dedicated to the promotion and continued improvement of golf journalism.