Woods Captures 10th PGA Player of the Year Award, Vardon Trophy

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tiger Woods did not pocket a major championship in 2009, but his six victories and steady play left no doubt that he was the game's premier performer, while earning the 2009 PGA of America Player of the Year Award and Vardon Trophy.

Woods captured his 10th PGA Player of the Year award in a season-long points race, backed by six victories from March to September. He earned 100 overall points.

The final season standings will be released Nov. 16, following the completion of this weekend's Children's Miracle Network Classic. Woods is not competing in the event.

Woods garnered an eighth Vardon Trophy after completing 62 rounds, two above the minimum, in PGA Tour-sanctioned events. He closed his season with a 68.06 adjusted scoring average.

"I'm pleased that I earned the PGA Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy, presented by The PGA of America," said Woods. "Both are important to me because they demonstrate that I had a successful and consistent year. I'm happy the way I came back after recovering from knee surgery."

The PGA Player of the Year, first presented in 1948, and the Vardon Trophy, which originated in 1937, are The PGA of America's premier season-ending awards for excellence by a Tour professional.

Woods' victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament, AT&T National, Buick Open, WGC Bridgestone Invitational and BMW Championship were worth 60 points, and his No. 1 perch in money earnings and scoring average statistics were worth another 20 points each.

Steve Stricker, winner of three events in his own memorable season, was runner-up with 66 points, and was second in the Vardon Trophy race with a 69.29 adjusted scoring average.

Double-winner Zach Johnson is third in the PGA Player of the Year standings, and will compete this weekend while already compiling 48 points. He is followed by Phil Mickelson with 46 and PGA Champion Y.E. Yang with 42.

Jim Furyk was third in the Vardon Trophy standings at 69.48, followed by Johnson (69.58) and David Toms (69.66).

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. 1, through the Children's Miracle Network Classic, which concludes Nov. 15. 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.