PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Six-time PGA Player of the Year Tiger Woods, who captured his 10th career major championship at last week's 134th British Open, has taken a commanding lead in the 2005 PGA Player of the Year standings.

Woods, who won PGA Player of the Year titles in 1997, and 1999 through 2003, has collected 170 points based on victories in the Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at Doral, Masters and British Open. He also took over the lead in money earnings and adjusted scoring average. Woods picked up 50 bonus points last week for earning his second major championship.

Vijay Singh, the 2004 PGA Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy winner, is second with 66 points, followed by Phil Mickelson with 60. Singh and Mickelson each have three season victories. Singh is second on the money list and trails Woods in the Vardon Trophy standings.

Woods, who won five consecutive Vardon Trophies between 1999 and 2003, owns a 68.84 adjusted scoring average through 48 rounds, while Singh has a 69.22 adjusted average based on 77 rounds. Jim Furyk is third at 69.25 after 67 rounds.

Since 1948, The PGA of America has honored the game's best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award. 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. 1 through The TOUR Championship, which concludes Nov. 6.

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named 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 PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.

2005 PGA Player of the Year Standings
Through the British Open ending 7/17/05
Player Victory
Points Money
Points Scoring
Points Bonus
Points Total
Points
1. Tiger Woods 80 20 20 50 170
(Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at Doral, The Masters, British Open
2. Vijay Singh 30 18 18 66
(Sony Open, Shell Houston Open, Wachovia Championship)
3. Phil Mickelson 30 16 14 60
(FBR Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BellSouth Classic)
4. Kenny Perry 20 10 10 40
(Bay Hill Invitational, Bank of America Colonial)
5. Jim Furyk 10 12 16 38
(Cialis Western Open)
6. Michael Campbell 30 30
(U.S. Open)
7. Fred Funk 20 6 26
(The Players Championship)
8. David Toms 10 14 1 25
(WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship)
9. Padraig Harrington 20 2 22
(Honda Classic, Barclays Classic)
10. Justin Leonard 20 20
(Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Fedex St. Jude Classic)

Since 1948, The PGA of America has honored the game's best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award. 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. 1 through The Tour Championship, ending Nov. 7. 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.

2005 Vardon Trophy Standings
Through 7/17/05
Player Rounds Avg.
1. Tiger Woods 48 68.84
2. Vijay Singh 77 69.22
3. Jim Furyk 67 69.25
4. Phil Mickelson 56 69.28
5. Luke Donald 44 69.43
6. Kenny Perry 56 69.84
7. Ernie Els 44 69.86
8. Tom Lehman 41 69.88
9. Scott Verplank 52 69.90
T10. David Toms 60 69.91
T10. Sergio Garcia 48 69.91

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.

Points are distributed based on the sum of the following:

A) Tournament victories
Points
PGA Championship 30
U.S. Open 30
British Open 30
Masters 30
The Players Championship 20
All other PGA Tour events, including World Championships series 10
B) Money winnings: PGA Tour official money list
Points
1st 20
2nd 18
3rd 16
4th 14
5th 12
6th 10
7th 8
8th 6
9th 4
10th 2
C) Adjusted scoring average: min. 60 rounds
Points
1st 20
2nd 18
3rd 16
4th 14
5th 12
6th 10
7th 8
8th 6
9th 4
10th 2