Nationwide Tour Player of The Year To Receive Jack Nicklaus Trophy

The Nationwide Tour has recognized a Player of the Year since 1990, the inaugural season of the Tour. This year, however, that player will receive the Jack Nicklaus Trophy for the first time.

The Nicklaus Trophy has been awarded annually to PGA TOUR and Champions Tour Players of the Year, but not to the Nationwide Tour player. That is about to change as Nicklaus has graciously agreed to allow the Tour to award the trophy bearing his likeness to this year's winner.

"In recognition of the growing standard of play on the Nationwide Tour, we felt it appropriate to award the same trophy to the Players of the Year on all three of our Tours," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "When we suggested this change to Jack, he wholeheartedly endorsed the idea. We are grateful to him for allowing us to use his name to honor our top players."

Nicklaus got a taste of the quality of the Nationwide Tour this year as he and his four sons played together at the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs. It was the first time that Jack played with all four of his sons in a professional event. He shot scores of 71-67-75-70 and finished in a T45.

Among the former Nationwide Tour Players of the Year currently enjoying success on the PGA TOUR are Jeff Maggert, Jerry Kelly, Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell. Tom Lehman, who was the Nationwide Tour Player of the Year in 1991, also went on to become the PGA TOUR Player of the Year in 1996.

The Nationwide Tour Player of the Year will be selected by a vote of the membership at the conclusion of the season.