Sergio Garcia of Spain has become the first European-born player since 1937 and first from his homeland to win the PGA of America's Vardon Trophy.
The Vardon Trophy, first presented to English-born "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper in 1937 for season-long scoring excellence, completes the first year in which two of The PGA of America's prestigious season-ending awards have been won by European players.
Double Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland earned the PGA Player of the Year Award last month. Harrington and England's Nick Faldo (1990) are the only Europeans to earn the PGA Player of the Year Award, which was first presented by The PGA of America in 1948.
Garcia completed 72 official rounds on the US PGA Tour, posting an adjusted scoring average of 69.12. Phil Mickelson was runner-up with a 69.17 adjusted averages based on 80 rounds, while Anthony Kim was third at 69.28 based on 81 rounds.
Vardon Trophy
2008 Final Standings
Player Rounds Avg.
1. Sergio Garcia 72 69.12
2. Phil Mickelson 80 69.17
3. Anthony Kim 81 69.28
4. Camilo Villegas 79 69.49
5. Vijay Singh 82 69.58
6. Jim Furyk 95 69.69
T7. Robert Allenby 108 69.73
T7. Stuart Appleby 87 69.73
9. Justin Leonard 101 69.77
10. Kenny Perry 97 69.83
Garcia also tied for fourth with Mickelson in the final PGA Player of the Year standings, determined following the Children's Miracle Network Classic that concluded November 9.
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 US PGA Tour. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.
Harrington accumulated 116 total points in the final PGA Player of the Year standings, and was not eligible for the Vardon Trophy due to his not meeting the minimum required number of 60 complete rounds. Harrington finished with 52 official rounds.
Harrington collected 60 points for winning The Open and US PGA Championship, 50 bonus points for achieving that feat and was eighth on the season money list to pick up six additional points.
Nine-time PGA Player of the Year Tiger Woods, who has been sidelined since June 15 while recovering from knee surgery, was second in the PGA Player of the Year standings with 78 points. Vijay Singh finished third with 62 points, while Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia shared fourth with 54.
PGA Player of the Year
2008 Final Standings
Player Points
1. Padraig Harrington 116
2. Tiger Woods 78
3. Vijay Singh 62
T4. Phil Mickelson 54
T4. Sergio Garcia 54
6. Anthony Kim 46
T7. Kenny Perry 44
8. Camilo Villegas 42
9. Trevor Immelman 30
10. Justin Leonard 16
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 concluded Nov. 9.
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.
