Peter Uihlein, who left the United States in search of a golf career, has become the first American to earn the Henry Cotton Award as Rookie of the Year on the European Tour.
The 24-year-old Uihlein, who claimed his first professional victory in May at the Madeira Island Open, posted eight top-10 finishes on the Euro Tour in 2013 and finished 14th in the Race to Dubai.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s been a great year and I’m very pleased,” said Uihlein, the 2010 U.S. Amateur champion who left Oklahoma State in 2011. “I think I’m the first non-European to win it, so that’s a great honor. Any time you’re the first of anything, it’s neat.
“The win in Madeira was great and I had a lot of top-10s. I played well all week in Madeira and handled myself well in the wind, and it was nice to get the job done. The win opened a few doors for me and I was able to play at Wentworth (the BMW PGA Championship) the following week.
“I was supposed to start the year on the Challenge Tour, but instead I was 11th in the Race to Dubai heading into the final event, so it wasn’t what I’d planned on but obviously it’s fantastic the way it has worked out.”
Uihlein barely missed shooting 59 at Kingsbarns Golf Club in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which he lost in a playoff when David Howell of England made a birdie on the second extra hole.
Others who have won the Rookie of the Year Award include Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Tony Jacklin, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Peter Oosterhuis, Sam Torrance, Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn and Matteo Manassero.
