Koepka named PGA of America's player of the year

Koepka, who overcame a serious wrist injury prior to the season, won a second consecutive U.S. Open championship in June and then triumphed at the PGA Championship in August.

(Reuters)

Justin Thomas, who picked up the award last year, finished second to Koepka for Player of the Year, which is based on a points system. World number one Dustin Johnson was third followed by FedEx Cup winner Justin Rose.

Johnson posted an adjusted scoring average of 68.698 through 77 complete rounds to edge out Rose (68.993), who had 70 rounds, for the Vardon Trophy.

Koepka is widely regarded as the front-runner to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award, which will be announced later this year.

Decided by a ballot of tour members, the PGA Tour award is perhaps the most cherished by the players as it reflects their standing among their peers.

Vying with Koepka for this award are Rose, Johnson, Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and British Open winner Francesco Molinari, each of whom are competing at this week's Ryder Cup in Paris.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Toby Davis)