Tiger Woods Wins Player of the Year

For the 10th time in his career, Tiger Woods has earned PGA of America Player of the Year honors.

The 33-year-old Woods rebounded from major knee surgery to win six times and post three seconds on the PGA Tour in 2009. In 17 starts, he recorded 14 top-10 finishes, won his second FedExCup title and earned more than $10.5 million.

Woods averaged 68.05 strokes a round — the third-best showing of his career since turning pro in 1996 — to win the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Award for the lowest-adjusted scoring average for the ninth time, and the PGA of America’s Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average for the eighth time. Woods previously captured Byron Nelson trophies in 1999 (68.43); 2000 (67.79); 2001 (68.81); 2002 (68.56); 2003 (68.41); 2005 (68.66); 2006 (68.11); and 2007 (67.79). Woods won the Vardon Trophy from 1999-2003 and in 2005 and 2007.

In addition, Woods has sewn up the Arnold Palmer Award, presented annually to the PGA Tour’s leading money winner, for the eighth time. He also garnered the award in 1999 ($6.6 million); 2000 ($9.1 million); 2001 ($5.6 million); 2002 ($6.9 million); 2005 ($10.6); 2006 ($9.9 million); and 2007 ($10.8 million).

Woods is also the leading candidate to win the Jack Nicklaus Trophy for PGA Tour Player of the Year. The award is determined by player voting. Woods previously won the trophy in 1999-2003 and 2005-07.