McDowell, Tseng, Langer are golf writers' players of the year

December 17 -- Graeme McDowell, Yani Tseng, and Bernhard Langer are your PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour players of the year, according to the Golf Writers Association of America. The honor is the first for all three recipients, whom GWAA will honor at its annual awards dinner in Augusta, Ga., in April.

McDowell, who shared European Tour POY honors with PGA champ Martin Kaymer and won the Association of Golf Writers’ trophy, held off PGA Tour POY Jim Furyk and Kaymer to walk away with the trophy. GMac became the first Euro to win the U.S. Open in 40 years, but his final two clutch putts in a come-from-behind playoff win over Tiger Woods at the Chevron World Challenge was the punctuation mark to a career year for the 31-year-old.

McDowell, who also capped the Europeans’ beat down of the Americans in the Ryder Cup, garnered 43 percent of the vote (87 votes). Furyk claimed 32 percent (61) and Kaymer 25 percent (51).

On the LPGA Tour, Tseng ran away from the pack with 69 percent of the vote (137) to 16 percent for Cristie Kerr (32) and Ai Miyazato’s 15 percent (31). Langer (94 percent/187 votes) trounced Fred Couples (six percent/13).

Tseng won three tourneys in 2010, including two majors -- the Kraft Nabisco Championship and Women’s British Open. She also earned eight top-10s, closed the season fourth on the money list, and was the LPGA player of the year.

Langer was the easy winner among the over-50 set, with consecutive major championships -- Senior Open and U.S. Senior Open -- crowning his five-win season. He also topped the money list and won his third straight Champions Tour POY award.