Garcia becomes first European player since 1937 to claim Vardon Trophy

Sergio Garcia of Spain gestures with his caddie towards a TV camera after finishing a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo)

PGA.com
11/11/2008 9:47:26 AM

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Sergio Garcia of Spain has become the first European-born player since 1937 and first from his homeland to win the Vardon Trophy, PGA of America officials have announced.

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 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 -- one of the U.S. standouts in the Ryder Cup -- was third at 69.28 based on 81 rounds.

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 Nov. 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 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 British Open and 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.

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.