Decided by a judging panel drawn from all sectors of the golfing media – newspapers, magazines, radio and television – the award was inaugurated in 1985.
It should not be confused with the Association of Golf Writers Trophy, inaugurated in 1951.
| Year | Player | Nat. |
| 2024 | Rory McIlroy | NI |
| 2023 | Adrian Meronk | POL |
| 2022 | Ryan Fox | NZL |
| 2021 | Jon Rahm | ESP |
| 2020 | Lee Westwood | ENG |
| 2019 | Jon Rahm | ESP |
| 2018 | Francesco Molinari | ITA |
| 2017 | Sergio García | ESP |
| 2016 | Henrik Stenson (2) | SWE |
| 2015 | Rory McIlroy (3) | NI |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy (2) | NI |
| 2013 | Henrik Stenson (1) | SWE |
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy (1) | NI |
| 2011 | Luke Donald | NI |
| 2010 | Martin Kaymer & Graeme McDowell | GER & NI |
| 2009 | Lee Westwood (3) | ENG |
| 2008 | Pádraig Harrington (2) | IRE |
| 2007 | Pádraig Harrington (1) | IRE |
| 2006 | Paul Casey | ENG |
| 2005 | Michael Campbell | NZL |
| 2004 | Vijay Singh | FJI |
| 2003 | Ernie Els (2) | RSA |
| 2002 | Ernie Els (1) | RSA |
| 2001 | Retief Goosen | RSA |
| 2000 | Lee Westwood (2) | ENG |
| 1999 | Colin Montgomerie (4) | SCO |
| 1998 | Lee Westwood (1) | ENG |
| 1997 | Colin Montgomerie (3) | SCO |
| 1996 | Colin Montgomerie (2) | SCO |
| 1995 | Colin Montgomerie (1) | SCO |
| 1994 | Ernie Els (1) | RSA |
| 1993 | Bernhard Langer (2) | GER NI |
| 1992 | Nick Faldo (2) | ENG |
| 1991 | Seve Ballesteros (3) | ESP |
| 1990 | Nick Faldo (2) | ENG |
| 1989 | Nick Faldo (1) | ENG |
| 1988 | Seve Ballesteros (2) | ESP |
| 1987 | Ian Woosnam | WAL |
| 1986 | Seve Ballesteros (1) | ESP |
| 1985 | Bernhard Langer (1) | GER |
Related: PGA Tour Player of the Year & PGA Player of the Year
From 1948 to the present day.
Related: PGA Tour – Rookie of the Year
From 1979 to the present day.
Related: Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award
From 1960 to the present day.
Simon Bale (Editor)
More postsUpdated: August 5, 2025
Related tags: Association of Golf Writers, European Tour, golf records, History, Player of the Year, Statistics, trivia