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McIlroy not bothered by rookie snub
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP)—Rory McIlroy wasn’t the least bit bothered by
getting snubbed as the PGA Tour rookie of the year because the 21-year-old from
Northern Ireland never considered himself a rookie.
In a vote of the players, Rickie Fowler was voted the top rookie on the PGA
Tour, even though he didn’t win a tournament....
“It’s fine,” McIlroy said Sunday after making four birdies in his last
five holes at the Chevron World Challenge to finish fourth. “Look, I really
didn’t want it. I’m not a rookie.”
The PGA Tour considers him a rookie because it was his first full year on
tour, which is why McIlroy was on the ballot with Fowler, Puerto Rico Open
winner Derek Lamely and Alex Prugh.
The tour does not reveal how many players voted or the results.
The 21-year-old Fowler did not turn pro until the fall of 2009 after playing
in the Walker Cup. After going through Q-school, he had runner-up finishes in
the Phoenix Open and Memorial, and became the first tour rookie picked for the
Ryder Cup team.
“When I joined the PGA Tour, I was top 10 in the world,” McIlroy said.
“Rickie had an unbelievable year. He deserves it.”
Without polling the players—assuming they even voted—it was difficult to
know if McIlroy was snubbed because players don’t consider him a true rookie, or
because he announced last month that he would not take up U.S. membership for
next year.