Kaymer and McDowell share European player of the year award

Dec 7, 2010, 14:14 GMT

Berlin - Martin Kaymer of Germany and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland were named Tuesday as joint winners of 2010 European Tour Golfer of the Year award.

It is the first time since the award was initiated in 1985 that there have been joint winners, the European Tour said on its website.

Both Kaymer and McDowell won Major championships for the first time and both were on the winning European Ryder Cup team.

Kaymer, 25, won the PGA Championship and defeated McDowell to finish top of the money list on the Tour.

McDowell, 31, won the US Open and holed the putt to secure Europe's Ryder Cup win over the United States at Celtic Manor, Wales.

Kaymer is ranked third in the world behind England's Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods of the United States, while McDowell climbed to seventh after his play-off victory against Woods in the Chevron World Challenge on Sunday.

Both players won four times on the European Tour this year.

The award follows a vote by a judging panel comprising members of the golfing media.

'This has been a truly great year for me and winning this award is the perfect ending,' said Kaymer.

McDowell said the award was 'the icing on the cake on what has been a very special year for myself, Martin and everyone involved in European golf.'

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