Golf News: - Posted 21st October 1998

Mark O'Meara gets PGA of America Player of the Year award

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. - Even though two events remain to be played, Masters and Open champion Mark O'Meara has clinched the PGA of America Player of the Year award, beating out David Duval, the PGA Tour's leading money winner and the winner of four 1998 tournaments.

O'Meara has earned 136 total points based on 60 points for his major championship triumphs, 50 bonus points for his double-major feat, 10 points for his sixth-place standing in the season money list, and 14 points for his fourth-place position in the Vardon Trophy standings.

Duval, who has 90 points, leads the Vardon standings, holding a slim edge over Tiger Woods. The Vardon award measures season performance through adjusted scoring average. Duval has a 69.02 stroke average through 75 rounds, while Woods is at 69.06 over 65 rounds.

A Player of the Year has been named annually by the PGA of America since 1948. The PGA Tour has its own Player of the Year award, which is determined by a vote of the players and announced in January. Woods won both awards last year.

The two tournaments remaining to be played are the National Car Rental Golf Classic 22nd - 25th October (formerly the Walt Disney World Classic) and The Tour Championship 29th October - 1st November.