How do you feel when the award ceremony arrives after you have performed? Or how do you feel as your exam results approach? Our golf stars may be experiencing those very same emotions. The PGA Tour’s season-ending event has brought with itself the award season. Among the most famous ones, is the Arnold Palmer Award, which started in 1974.

The award was named after the father of modern golf, Arnold Palmer. Gary Koch set the standard as the first Arnold Palmer Award winner in 1974, finishing with a score of 63 in 1976, which remains the lowest finish to date. Contrastingly, Martin Laird, who won the same award in the year 2011, has the highest finishing score of 75. In another noteworthy display, Tiger Woods, the six-time Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, finished his round with an even-par 72 after making a bogey on the par-3 17th hole and a double-bogie on the par-4 18th hole.

And now, fast forward to 2024, the PGA Tour’s most recent nominations are continuing this history of brilliance. Are you prepared to be amazed by the remarkable people who are changing the game?

The Arnold Palmer Award nominees revealed

The PGA TOUR revealed on Monday the nominees for the Arnold Palmer Award for the 2024 season, as determined by the PGA Tour Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council. Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp, and Matthieu Pavon are the four nominees of the year. These men have been breaking records on greens this season.

While everyone makes a wild guess about the winner, let’s get to know a little about our talented nominees. First up is Nick Dunlap, a 20-year-old from Alabama. This youngster is creating history! He is the only player in history to win both amateur and professional championships in the same season. He was qualified for the BMW Championship and finished No. 49 in the FedExCup. Indeed, a remarkable way for a flying start!

Next up is the 29-year-old Max Greyserman. He might not have won, but three second-place finishes? That is not to be taken lightly! Till now, the new PGA Tour member has made his name in the top ten finishes in the Texas Children’s Houston Open (T7). Additionally, he is also ranked at T4 in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the World Wide Technology Championship.

Third on the list is Jake Knapp, a 30-year-old from Scottsdale who won the Mexico Open. Knapp also had several top-ten finishes, including a third-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, a fourth-place finish at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, and an eighth-place finish at the CJ CUP Byron Nelson. Lastly, we have Matthieu Pavon, a 32-year-old from France. He’s the only rookie to make it to the TOUR Championship this season. Plus, he won the Farmers Insurance Open. Yes, the eldest of the four, but don’t go by his age.

Looking into the eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Arnold Palmer Award, a player must satisfy specific criteria. Firstly, a golfer must be in their first year as a member of the PGA Tour. This implies that players with prior membership or experience on other professional circuits are ineligible. In addition to that, players must compete in a minimum number of tournaments to be eligible for the prize. While the precise number of events is not stated, it is usually between 10-15 occurrences.

The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year are decided by a member vote. PGA Tour members who participated in at least 15 tournaments during the 2024 season are allowed to vote. With the voting session declared to be concluded on Wednesday, December 4, at five in the evening, anticipation is high in the air. The winners are scheduled to be revealed at the end of the year. Who do you think is more likely to take home the award? Let us know below