FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy has been named the PGA Tour player of the year for a third time - and it gave him "goosebumps" to be told by Jack Nicklaus.

The 30-year-old Northern Irishman last month won the Tour Championship.to seal a second FedEx Cup triumph, earning a $15million windfall.

McIlroy has landed three PGA Tour titles - a tally matched only by Brooks Koepka - and finished in the top 10 on 14 occasions in a consistent season.

The four-time major champion receives the Jack Nicklaus Award for his year's achievement, five years after he last secured the honour.

He was presented with the trophy by Nicklaus himself, who surprised McIlroy with the news.

"I've got goosebumps. Thank you. Wow!" McIlroy said.

Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said: "On behalf of the PGA Tour, my congratulations to Rory McIlroy on being voted the 2019 PGA Tour player of the year by the Tour’s membership,

"While there are a number of honours one can receive in this game, PGA Tour player of the year has to be among the most satisfying as it comes directly from his peers.

"Rory's season was a model of consistency punctuated by milestone victories and ultimately the FedEx Cup in Atlanta."

South Korea's Sungjae Im was named PGA Tour rookie of the year, receiving the Arnold Palmer Award.