PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Tiger Woods’ sizzling stretch run from July 5 through Sept. 16, one of the most dominating performances in golf history, has captured a ninth PGA Player of the Year award in the past 11 seasons.
Woods also is in position to collect a seventh Vardon Trophy at the end of the season for the lowest season scoring average.
The world’s No. 1-ranked player posted his seventh victory of the year in the Tour Championship, Sept. 15, which gave him 90 victory points. He has accumulated 130 overall points, which include 40 for leading both the season money list and scoring average standings.
Woods has an impressive 67.79 adjusted scoring average through 63 rounds, which leaves him atop the Vardon Trophy standings. The Vardon Trophy race concludes Nov. 4. Ernie Els, who is second with a 69.29 average, has played 59 rounds, one shy of the minimum necessary for Vardon Trophy consideration.
Phil Mickelson is second in the PGA Player of the Year standings with 64 points, while Masters Champion Zach Johnson is third with 46; Vijay Singh fourth with 44 and Steve Stricker fifth with 38.
There are six point events remaining before the final point totals are tallied for both season-ending awards.
A minimum of 60 rounds is required to qualify for the Vardon Trophy, which recognizes a player’s season scoring excellence. Mickelson and Johnson became ineligible for the Vardon Trophy due to incomplete rounds at The Memorial. Both Mickelson and Johnson continued to earn scoring points in the PGA Player of the Year race, but were penalized .10 in the scoring average category.
The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The Award is currently presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings and scoring averages. Points are tabulated from Jan. 7, through The Walt Disney World Resort Classic, which concludes Nov. 4.
Since 1937, The Vardon Trophy, named in honor of famed British golfer Harry Vardon, is awarded annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA Tour.
The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Golf Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
2007 PGA Player of the Year Standings
Through the Turning Stone Resort Championship
(ending 9/23/07)
Victory Money Scoring Bonus Total
Player Points Points Points Points Points
1. Tiger Woods 90 20 20 — 130
(Buick Invitational, WGC-CA Championship, Wachovia Championship,
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship, BMW Championship,
The TOUR Championship)
2. Phil Mickelson 40 18 6* — 64
(AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, The Players Championship,
Deutsche Bank Championship)
3. Zach Johnson 40 6 — — 46
(The Masters, AT&T Classic)
4. Vijay Singh 20 16 8 — 44
(Mercedes Benz Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational)
5. Steve Stricker 10 14 14 — 38
(The Barclays)
6. K.J. Choi 20 12 4 — 36
(The Memorial, AT&T National)
T7 Angel Cabrera 30 — — — 30
(U.S. Open)
T7 Padraig Harrington 30 — — — 30
(British Open)
T7 Jim Furyk 10 8 12 — 30
(Bell Canadian Open)
10. Rory Sabbatini 10 10 2 — 22
(Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial)
Since 1948, The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award. The award is currently presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings and scoring averages. Points are tabulated from Jan. 1 through The Disney Classic, ending Nov. 4. In addition, 50 bonus points are awarded to players with more than one major championship in the same year, and an additional 25 points for each additional major championship. * – Penalized .10 in scoring average due to an incomplete round
2007 Vardon Trophy
Standings
(Through 9/23/07)
Player Rounds Avg.
1. Tiger Woods 63 67.79
2. Ernie Els 59 69.29
3. Justin Rose 63 69.30
4. Steve Stricker 81 69.39
5. Jim Furyk 84 69.47
6. Sergio Garcia 68 69.48
7. Vijay Singh 102 69.49
8. K.J. Choi 87 69.61
9. Scott Verplank 76 69.65
10. Rory Sabbatini 81 69.74
Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by The PGA of America in honor of famed British golfer Harry Vardon, is awarded annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA Tour. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.
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