Adrian Meronk defeats Rory McIlroy to Player of the Year despite Ryder Cup snub

Adrian Meronk receives more votes than Rory McIlroy to become the first Polish golfer to win the DP World Tour's Player of the Year.

Andy Roberts

16 Jan 2024

Adrian Meronk defeats Rory McIlroy to Player of the Year despite Ryder Cup snub — Adrian Meronk defeats Rory McIlroy to Player of the Year despite Ryder Cup…

Adrian Meronk has become the first Polish golfer to win the coveted 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award after defeating Rory McIlroy to the DP World Tour's Player of the Year.

Meronk, 30, won three times on the DP World Tour last season but was controversially left out of the European Ryder Cup team by captain Luke Donald.

The decision seemed a particularly bizarre one from Donald, especially given Meronk had won at the 2023 Ryder Cup venue when victorious at the Italian Open earlier in the season.

Thankfully for Europe, the decision mattered little in the end as Donald's men ran out victors by five points in Rome.

Meronk dusted himself down and went on to finish last season in a career-best position of fourth on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on becoming the first ever Pole to compete in the European Ryder Cup team last September, Meronk took consolation from earning the title of 2023 Players of the Year on the DP World Tour.

Meronk earned 38% of the vote, which was cast by his fellow DP World Tour members.

Race to Dubai champion McIlroy finished in second place, narrowly ahead of his fellow European Ryder Cup members Nicolai Hojgaard and Viktor Hovland in a tie for third.

Meronk started the 2023 season in stunning fashion, earning his second DP World Tour title at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, holding off a final day challenge from home favourite – and one of his golfing heroes - in major champion Adam Scott.

His victory in Australia earned him a place inside the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the 2022 calendar year, enough to secure a maiden appearance at The Masters and thus become the first player from Poland to compete in all four major championships.

Another national open title followed shortly after as he triumphed at the DS Automobiles Italian Open, birdieing the 72nd hole at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to win the title by one stroke. He then moved to a career-high 45th on the OWGR shortly after his win in Italy.

Meronk's next victory of the campaign, and fourth DP World Tour title, came at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Sotogrande, as he secured his position inside the top ten on the season-long rankings, ultimately going on to finish in fourth position and earn dual membership on the PGA Tour for 2024.

The Player of the Year Award, named after the legendary Seve Ballesteros, incorporates the former Golfer of the Year Award after the two accolades were combined in 2021 to become one single honour voted for by the DP World Tour’s members.

Meronk said:

"It feels amazing. I'm shocked to be honest, I didn't expect that. You got me by surprise but seeing my name next to all of these players, it's unbelievable. I'm very grateful for this award. It means a lot to me that other players appreciate my season last year. It's a great feeling. Last year was the best season so far in my career. I'm really happy that other players saw that, as well and give that award. Just thank you for that and I have to keep going. I enjoy this week. I love playing here in Dubai. It's probably one of my favourite tournaments of the year. So I'm excited to be here. We have such a great field this week, so I will just enjoy every moment."

Javier Ballesteros, son of late great European Ryder Cup legend Seve Ballesteros, presented Meronk with his award.

Ballesteros said:

"It's actually very nice to be here. "I used to come here with my dad many years ago, and to have an award with his name that the players vote for the Player of the Year, we are very grateful and very happy that there's a prize with his name. Adrian played fantastic last year, he won multiple times and he's a well-deserved winner of this award. We were very happy when the Tour came to us to say that they were going to put the Seve Ballesteros Award for the Player of the Year, and we really do like it. We are very grateful, and the special thing that we like is the prize is voted by the players."

Keith Pelley, who will depart his role as Chief Executive of the DP World Tour in April this season, said:

"Adrian has made history throughout his career, and I’m delighted to congratulate him once again, this time for becoming the first Polish player to add their name to the illustrious list of winners of the Seve Ballesteros Award. Any season that includes three trophies - including two national opens – is always impressive, and Adrian’s peers clearly thought so. I also want to thank Javier Ballesteros for travelling to Dubai to present the award to Adrian. It meant a lot to have him there to represent his father."

What do you make of Meronk earning the title of Player of the Year for 2023 on the DP World Tour? Should he have been picked by Donald in the European Ryder Cup team last season? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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