The PGA Tour announced Wednesday its nominees for the 2025 Arnold Palmer Award, given to the Tour's Rookie of the Year. The PGA Tour Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC) nominated five players.
The Rookie of the Year is determined by a member vote, with members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2025 season eligible to vote. Voting opens Thursday, Dec. 4 and closes Dec. 12, with the winner announced at a later date.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWho's the favorite? Among the five players, who all picked up a win this season, include one who made only four starts. Here's a look at the five Rookie of the Year candidates:
Michael Brennan
Michael Brennan poses with the trophy after his winning the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort.Brennan made only four PGA Tour starts this season, winning the Black Desert Championship as a sponsor exemption in his third start. He earned PGA Tour membership with his win, becoming the seventh player since 1970 to win within his first three career starts. He made the cut in all four starts, finishing No. 98 in the FedExCup Fall standings.
Steven Fisk
Steven Fisk of the United States poses with the trophy on the 18th green after his winning putt during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship 2025 at The Country Club of Jackson on October 05, 2025 in Jackson, Mississippi.Steven Fisk picked up a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He made 27 starts this season, making 16 cuts, and having one additional top 10 at the Puerto Rico Open.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWilliam Mouw
William Mouw poses with the trophy after winning the 2025 ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville.Mouw won the ISCO Championship and had additional top-10 finishes at the 3M Open and Puerto Rico Open. He made 14 cuts in 24 starts and finished 89th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings.
Aldrich Potgieter
Aldrich Potgieter of South Africa poses with the trophy after winning the Rocket Classic 2025 at Detroit Golf Club on June 29, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.Potgieter nearly won the Mexico Open before falling in a playoff. However, he bounced back this summer and earned his first win at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. He was the only rookie to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and finished No. 56 in the FedExCup Fall standings.
Karl Vilips
Karl Vilips poses with the trophy after winning the 2025 Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club.Vilips made 12 cuts in 21 starts, earning his first victory at the Puerto Rico Open. He finished 100th in the Fedex Cup Fall standings and added one more top-10 finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Breaking down the 2025 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year candidates
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