THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Winning back-to-back majors was the highlight of Padraig Harrington's career. He felt winning the PGA Tour player of the year award Tuesday was just as significant.

Harrington, only the fourth player to win the British Open and PGA Championship in the same season, became the first European player to win the PGA Tour award since it began in 1990.

"It has been a fantastic season individually out there, winning a couple of majors," Harrington said in a conference call from Ireland. "At the time you win them, you certainly feel that nothing could compare to it. But to be honest, there is no greater accolade than to receive an award from your peers.

"Because it's the players, because it's my peers, because they're people that I care and am concerned about their opinions deeply, for them to choose me as their player of the year is very special," he said. "It compares equally to winning a major championship."

Andres Romero of Argentina was voted rookie of the year, while Dudley Hart received comeback player of the year. In other awards, Bernhard Langer was Champions Tour player of the year, with Brendan de Jonge winning the Nationwide Tour award.



Harrington presumably beat out Tiger Woods, who won four times and didn't finish worse than fifth in his six tournaments before season-ending knee surgery in June. Woods won the U.S. Open and still finished second on the money list.

The PGA Tour does not disclose vote totals. Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas and Kenny Perry also were on the ballot for player of the year.

Harrington said he abstained from voting, because he didn't think it was proper to vote for himself, yet wanted to win the award badly enough that he didn't want to vote for anyone else.

He felt Woods has set such a high standard that voting worked in Harrington's favor.

"If I had done what Tiger had done this year, I would have won player of the year, if you can understand what I'm saying," Harrington said. "It's the baggage he brought into the year and the fact that he is as talented as he is and has done as well as he has that would lead players to look to somebody like myself, who has had an exceptional year.

"I think in some ways, the fact that I had an exceptional year has swayed the vote toward me, whereas Tiger's phenomenal year is just what we're used to with Tiger Woods."

Romero was among four rookies who won PGA Tour events this year, but he exceeded the others on many fronts. Romero, who won in New Orleans, was the only rookie to play in the Tour Championship. And he was among only 11 players to make the cut in all four majors, finishing in the top 10 twice.

"This year helped me realize that I can play at the same level as the best players in the world," Romero said. "And hopefully, I can continue on that path."

Hart missed most of 2007 when doctors found a softball-sized lump in his wife's lung that had cancer cells. He tended to their triplets during her surgery and recovery, and while he didn't win this year, did well enough to finish 29th on the money list, matching his highest ranking since 1999.

"It's nice to be voted by your peers," Hart said. "But there's two sides to this. It means I didn't do very well the previous year. Hopefully, this is the last time I get this award."

i was hoping Paddy would get it. Its quite an acomplishment to win two majors in the same year plus a major the year before. Not to many players have done that. He has certainly come of age with his game. congratulations Paddy. You deserve it.

Gary

I know many thought Tiger would get it, and he is amazing, but this was Paddy's year. The right one got it.

Interesting that they don't publish the final vote.

Well,,,, Flame Jacket on !!!! I was hoping for Tiger !!!!!

There were only two possibilities, Tiger and Paddy. The other POY did not surprise me, but this one did, a little bit. Interesting that a major and an incredible winning percentage in tough tournaments lost to two majors and pretty much nothing else on the year. Maybe since tiger only played half the year they decided he could not get player of the "year." LOL

Not taking away from the fact that winning two majors in a year is a remarkable feat, but hey "someone" was missing from the field!!!

I agree GA, it wasn't a total surprise but I also thought with what Tiger accomplished in such little time he played was remarkable !!!!!

Jeeesh....you guys never give up.

Congrats to Padraig. Well deserved .

I said it was a remarkable feat to win two majors. The player vote for Paddy just surprised me, considering he did pretty much nothing else the rest of the year. I guess a "normal" player can't do much more than that, as it takes too much out of them to win anything else!!

As an aside, been getting snow? We've had a couple of small ones, maybe 3 inches total in town. Mountain is getting quite a bit, though! Been raining here all day, but not cold enough to snow. That will probably change this afternoon!

I said it was a remarkable feat to win two majors. The player vote for Paddy just surprised me, considering he did pretty much nothing else the rest of the year. I guess a "normal" player can't do much more than that, as it takes too much out of them to win anything else!!

As an aside, been getting snow? We've had a couple of small ones, maybe 3 inches total in town. Mountain is getting quite a bit, though! Been raining here all day, but not cold enough to snow. That will probably change this afternoon!


Hello......is it Bob ? I seem to remember your name is Bob , but i'm getting a bit senile and i can't remember names. I'm only half kidding.....at least i didn't call you Gus.

I was just yankin your chain....i guess i'm in a chain yankin mood.
Tiger could have easily been named POY , but i think they got it right this year. Tiger can now resume his march towards POY for 2009 ...........but it was a great year for Padraig this year.

It has been colder than a Hogan stare up here. We have had copious amounts of snow in the mountains , but only a few inches here in the foothills. The weekend looks like another below zero nightmare and your rain will probably get here in the form of snow. Golf is on the back burner for awhile and the ice is in for pond hockey. My brother was pounding through deep powder just two days ago in the mountains , so i might be tempted to join him for some Christmas snow............although my knees might go on strike if i ask any more of them.

Looking forward to Tiger's return in 09 and the emergence of some talented young guys. Anthony Kim , Camillo , and how about guys like Boo Weekly ? Can Ernie come back to form ? Will Adam Scott win a major or anything else for that matter ? Sergio might make a run for POY IN 2009. Will Donald Trump reveal his hair secrets? Many questions and no easy answers.

Good to hear from you Gus.......er..i mean Bob.