Jordan Spieth is one of three finalists for the Associated Press 2015 Male Athlete of the Year award, the news organization announced.
Spieth finished among the top three vote-getters along with guard Stephen Curry, who led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Championship, and American Pharoah, who won horse racing’s Triple Crown.
The winner will be announced Saturday.
The 22-year-old Spieth, who captured the Masters and the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay among his five victories in 2015, joined Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to get halfway to the Grand Slam since 1960.
The Texan was tied for the lead with two holes remaining in the Open Championship at St. Andrews before finishing in a tie for fourth as Zach Johnson claimed the Claret Jug, and wound up second behind Jason Day of Australia in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
Spieth was a combined 58-under par in the four majors and was the first wire-to-wire winner at Augusta National in 39 years. His earnings amounted to a record $22 million.
Curry was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player after leading Golden State to its second NBA title, the other coming in 1975, and he and the Warriors have not let up, setting a league record by starting this season 24-0.
American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes since Affirmed in 1978, and then ran away from the field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He earned $8.3 million under eight months.
