EDISON, N.J. – While the PGA Tour Player of the Year vote doesn’t seem to be much of a race – the circuit could box up the Jack Nicklaus Award and ship it to Dallas, Texas, Attention: Spieth, Jordan – the Rookie of the Year duel is just heating up.
Carlos Ortiz, who has endured a relatively unproductive rookie season after a stellar year on the Web.com Tour in 2014, scorched Plainfield Country Club early Saturday, recording seven birdies and no bogeys for a 62 and briefly held a share of the lead before the afternoon starters teed off.