Tiger Woods
claimed yet another honour on the U.S. PGA Tour on Monday when
he was named the winner of the Vardon Trophy for best scoring
average, the PGA of America announced.
Woods, who capped a sensational season by winning the World
Championship tournament at Valderrama on Sunday, won the trophy
and registered the lowest adjusted average since the award
format was changed in 1988.
"Tiger is playing like the angels do," Masters champion
Jose Maria Olazabal said after Woods's Sunday playoff victory
in Spain over local favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The 23-year-old American, who had earlier wrapped up the
PGA Player of the Year award, completed 75 rounds with an
adjusted scoring average of 68.43. David Duval was runner-up
with a 69.17 average in 74 rounds.
The previous best adjusted scoring mark of 68.81 was set by
Greg Norman in 1994.
In 1988, the criteria was altered to award the trophy to
the Tour professional with the lowest adjusted average,
computed from the average score of the field at each event.
Woods's latest victory gave him record U.S. Tour winnings
of more than $6.5 million -- nearly $3 million more than
runner-up Duval.
Woods became the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to
win four consecutive starts. It was his eighth triumph in 11
tournaments and his ninth of the year world-wide.
