PGA TOUR Champions announced today that 2025 Charles Schwab Cup Champion Stewart Cink has claimed the Jack Nicklaus Award as Player of the Year, while Tommy Gainey has been named the Hale Irwin Award winner as PGA TOUR Champions Rookie of the Year. The honors were presented at the PGA TOUR Champions Annual Awards Dinner, held last night during the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
Cink, an eight-time PGA TOUR winner including the 2009 Open Championship, won three times on PGA TOUR Champions in 2025, including the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Gainey, who won the 2012 RSM Classic during his TOUR career, played his way onto PGA TOUR Champions via open qualifiers and top-10s before securing his breakthrough win at the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS in his fifth start on Tour.
“On behalf of PGA TOUR Champions, I would like to congratulate Stewart Cink and Tommy Gainey on their tremendous achievements, and for earning these prestigious honors through a vote of their peers. Stewart has long been one of the top players in our sport, and it was fantastic to watch him win the Charles Schwab Cup to cap off a breakout season on our Tour,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “Tommy showed true grit in advancing through a number of open qualifiers on his way to the winner’s circle in Jacksonville, and I know he takes great pride in securing Rookie of the Year honors.”
