Shane Lowry topped the closest poll in recent memory to win the prestigious 2019 Golf Writers Trophy, the leading award given by the Association of Golf Writers (AGW).

The 32-year-old Irishman pipped Europe's victorious Solheim Cup team by just two votes in a poll of AGW members to become Irish golf’s seventh individual winner after Joe Carr (1953), Harry Bradshaw (1958), Christy O’Connor Snr (1977), Pádraig Harrington (2007-08), Graeme McDowell (2010) and Rory McIlroy (2012, 2014-15).

Lowry won his first major with victory in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush amid emotional scenes in the event's first staging at the County Antrim venue since 1951.

The Clara man also won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series event, in January after firing a sensational 62 in the opening round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

“It is a huge personal honour for me to be voted as the 2019 Golfer of the Year by the Association of Golf Writers and its many members around the world," said Lowry.

“To be chosen by the men and women who report on our game across the globe on a weekly basis is very special and it’s an honour to join the illustrious names on the Golf Writers Trophy, which includes many multiple major winners and Ryder Cup captains. 

‘“I very much look forward to celebrating this award with all of the golf writers at the annual AGW dinner at Royal St George’s ahead of my Open Championship defence next summer.”

Lowry succeeds 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari in receiving the Golf Writers Trophy. Other recent winners include Henrik Stenson (2016) and Rory McIlroy (2014 and 2015).

"This year's poll was very close and that was no surprise after Europe's sensational Solheim Cup success over the United States in the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles," said AGW Chairman Martin Dempster.

"Led by Catriona Matthew on home soil, the European players dug deep to deny the US a third straight win in the biennial event, with Suzann Pettersen delivering one of the most memorable moments of the decade as she held her nerve to hole the winning putt.

“However, there can be no denying that Shane Lowry had a year to cherish. His performance as he completed his first major victory at Royal Portrush was outstanding.

"Cheered on by a huge home support on the Antrim coast, he followed opening rounds of 67-67 with a superb 63 in the third round and went on to win by six shots from Tommy Fleetwood after closing with a 72 in tough conditions.

"His victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship earlier in the year was also very impressive as he returned to winning ways after a barren spell following his triumph in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in 2015.

"Shane has long been a popular figure among our members due to the fact he is always friendly and courteous and he is a worthy winner of this award."

The Golf Writers Trophy is awarded each year to the person or persons, born or resident in Europe who, in the opinion of a majority of the AGW members, shall have made the most outstanding contribution to golf during the preceding twelve months.

Members are asked to nominate in order of preference three choices for the award.  Other players who figured prominently in the voting this year included Race to Dubai winner Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, a four-time victor in 2019.

Winners of the Golf Writers Trophy

• 1951 Max Faulkner OBE

• 1952 Elizabeth Price

• 1953 Joe Carr

• 1954 Frances Stephens OBE

• 1955 LGU Touring Team

• 1956 John Beharrell

• 1957 Dai Rees CBE

• 1958 Harry Bradshaw

• 1959 Eric Brown

• 1960 Sir Stuart Goodwin

• 1961 Cdr. RCT Goodwin

• 1962 Marley Spearman

• 1963 Michael Lunt

• 1964 Eisenhower Trophy Team

• 1965 Gerald Micklem CBE

• 1966 Ronnie Shade MBE

• 1967 John Panton MBE

• 1968 Sir Michael Bonallack OBE

• 1969 Tony Jacklin CBE

• 1970 Tony Jacklin CBE

• 1971 Walker Cup Team

• 1972 Michelle Walker OBE

• 1973 Peter Oosterhuis

• 1974 Peter Oosterhuis

• 1975 Golf Foundation

• 1976 Eisenhower Trophy Team

• 1977 Christy O’Connor, Snr

• 1978 Peter McEvoy OBE

• 1979 Severiano Ballesteros

• 1980 Sandy Lyle MBE

• 1981 Bernhard Langer

• 1982 Gordon Brand, Jnr

• 1983 Sir Nick Faldo MBE

• 1984 Severiano Ballesteros

• 1985 European Ryder Cup Team

• 1986 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Team

• 1987 European Ryder Cup Team

• 1988 Sandy Lyle MBE

• 1989 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Team

• 1990 Sir Nick Faldo MBE

• 1991 Severiano Ballesteros

• 1992 European Solheim Cup Team

• 1993 Bernhard Langer

• 1994 Dame Laura Davies MBE

• 1995 European Ryder Cup Team

• 1996 Colin Montgomerie OBE

• 1997 Alison Nicholas MBE

• 1998 Lee Westwood OBE

• 1999 Sergio Garcia

• 2000 Lee Westwood OBE

• 2001 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Team

• 2002 European Ryder Cup Team

• 2003 Annika Sorenstam

• 2004 European Ryder Cup Team

• 2005 Annika Sorenstam

• 2006 European Ryder Cup Team

• 2007 Pádraig Harrington

• 2008 Pádraig Harrington

• 2009 Lee Westwood OBE

• 2010 Graeme McDowell MBE

• 2011 Luke Donald MBE

• 2012 Rory McIlroy MBE

• 2013 Henrik Stenson

• 2014 Rory McIlroy MBE

• 2015 Rory McIlroy MBE

• 2016 Henrik Stenson

• 2017 Sergio Garcia

• 2018 Francesco Molinari

• 2019 Shane Lowry

  The 2019 Golf Writers Trophy will be presented to Shane Lowry at the AGW’s annual dinner, two days before he begins his defence of the Open Championship at Royal St George’s next July.