Sei Young Kim has been honored for the first time as Women’s Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America. The 26-year-old from South Korea dominated the balloting of GWAA members, receiving 69 percent of the vote with American Danielle Kang in a distant second. Both Kang and Kim won twice in 2020. But one of Kim’s victories was the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, her first major championship title, which came by five shots at historic Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia. Then, in her very next start, Kim won the Pelican Women’s Championship presented by DEX Imaging and Konica Minolta. She also captured the LPGA Player of the Year award with six additional top-10s in nine starts.
“I am very pleased and honored to receive such an important award,” Kim said. “It is an amazing feeling to get recognized for my efforts and dedication. This is a true booster, encouraging me to continue my hard work. I am also very appreciative of the GWAA for their tremendous work for the sport of golf.”
Dustin Johnson received the Men’s Player of the Year award from the GWAA and Bernhard Langer was recognized as the Senior Player of the Year.
“It’s a great honor to again be voted as the Golf Writers Association Player of the Year,’’ said Johnson. “I appreciate my many friends in the media and their recognition of my performance. This means a lot to me.”
Langer was also pleased, stating, “It is a great honor and wonderful recognition to have been named the GWAA Senior Player of the Year 2020. When experts of the trade/game, like the Golf Writers, vote for you, it means so much more and I am thrilled to receive this special reward again.”
The Player of the Year awards are normally presented in Augusta, Ga. at the annual GWAA banquet the Wednesday night before the start of the Masters. However, the pandemic has forced the cancelation of the 2021 banquet. Awards will be presented later in the year.
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