PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tiger Woods, who captured a marathon U.S. Open on June 15, then announced a day later that he would sit out the remainder of the year to rehabilitate after reconstructive knee surgery, is the leader in the PGA of America's 2008 Player of the Year point standings.

With Woods ending his season early and having completed only 26 rounds, he will forfeit his opportunity to collect scoring points in the race for an eighth Vardon Trophy, which marks scoring excellence. He has accumulated 80 points overall, including points for victories in the Buick Open, World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the U.S. Open. He has 20 points for leading the season money list.

Phil Mickelson is second overall with 58 points; including leading the Vardon Trophy race with a 69.45 adjusted scoring average through 53 rounds. He is second to Woods in the money list, gaining 18 points and has won two events.

Kenny Perry is third overall with 52 points, after capturing last weekend's victory in the Buick Open. He is second in the Vardon Trophy race with 18 points, with a 69.56 adjusted scoring average.

Stewart Cink and Sergio Garcia share fourth with 38 points.

A runner-up in the Masters before capturing the U.S. in a 91-hole playoff, Woods had won the past three PGA Player of the Year Awards and was the Vardon Trophy winner two of the past three years. Mickelson has yet to win any of the premier PGA of America season-ending awards.

The PGA of America has honored the game's best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. 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. 7, through the Children's Miracle Network Classic, which concludes 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.

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.

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