PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who elevated his legacy in the game by capturing this year's British Open and PGA Championship, has become the first from his homeland and only the second European player in history to win The PGA of America's 2008 Player of the Year award.

Harrington follows England's Nick Faldo (1990) as the only Europeans to earn the prestigious season-ending award, which was first presented by The PGA of America in 1948.

Harrington has accumulated 116 total points to date, which is more than enough to hold off challengers for the final four events of the season, which concludes Nov. 9. Harrington earned 60 points for his two major championships, 50 bonus points for achieving that feat and is currently eighth on the season money list to pick up six additional points.

Harrington was ineligible to remain in the Vardon Trophy race, due to completing 52 of the required 60 rounds.

Nine-time PGA Player of the Year Tiger Woods, who has been sidelined since June 15 while recovering from knee surgery, currently holds down second in the PGA Player of the Year standings with 78 points. Vijay Singh is third with 62 points, while Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia share fourth with 54.

Garcia leads the Vardon Trophy standings with a 69.12 adjusted scoring average based on 72 rounds, followed by Mickelson with a 69.17 adjusted average based on 80 rounds. The Vardon Trophy winner will be announced Nov. 9, following the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

The PGA of America has honored the game's best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The Award is 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 Children's Miracle Network Classic, which concludes Nov. 9.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

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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 Children's Miracle Network Classic, ending Nov. 9. 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.

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.

Points are distributed based on the sum of the following:

A) Tournament victories: PGA Championship 30, U.S. Open 30, British Open 30, Masters 30, The Players Championship 20, All other PGA Tour events including World Championships series 10.

B) Money winnings: PGA Tour official money list -- 1st 20, 2nd 18, 3rd 16, 4th 14, 5th 12, 6th 10, 7th 8, 8th 6, 9th 4, 10th 2.

C) Adjusted scoring average (min. 60 rounds): 1st 20, 2nd 18, 3rd 16, 4th 14, 5th 12, 6th 10, 7th 8, 8th 6, 9th 4, 10th 2.