Woods expecting to claim top award

TIGER WOODS would be stunned if he does not win his fifth consecutive US PGA Tour Player of the Year award when results of the voting by his golfing peers are announced December 8.

Top-ranked Woods captured a tour-best five titles, won the Vardon Trophy for low-stroke average for the fifth year in a row at 68.41, set a PGA record by making the cut in his 114th consecutive event and was second on the money list.

“I would be a little bit surprised considering the way I played this year, with (winning) two World Golf Championships in there, my stroke average being as low as it is and on top of that, never missing a cut,” Woods said.

But Fiji’s Vijay Singh is challenging the 27-year old American star for Player of the Year. He ended Woods’ four-year money list reign with 7,573,907 dollars to 6,673,413 dollars for Woods, who played 18 events to Singh’s 27.

“I think I have played the best,” Singh said.

“It would be nice if I could get it. In my mind, I’ve done what I can, played the most consistent throughout the year. It’s not up to me. It’s up to the guys. Whoever they vote for, it’s fine with me.”

Singh, like Woods, was unable to capture a major title this year. But he was consistent, with his 18 top-10 finishes the most on tour since Tom Kite’s 21 in 1981. Top 10 efforts in his last eight events gave Singh the money crown.

“It’s a big achievement,” Singh said. “Guys go through the whole year not finishing top-10 once.”

Woods, an eight-time major winner, won the PGA of America Player of the Year honour based on points for money and results by 88-78 over Singh and Canada’s Mike Weir, who has three wins in 2003 but none since taking the Masters in April.

“I think I have as much right to it as anybody else,” Weir said. “I haven’t played that great at the end of the year but I haven’t played poorly. I think momentum is on Vijay’s side. He has gotten more attention about his season.”

But many players agree with Ernie Els, who sees only two men with a chance.

“It’s between Tiger and Vijay obviously,” Els said. “It’s close.”

He added: “I’m probably leaning toward Vijay. You have got to play consistent to win the money title and he has done that. He had six weeks off with an injury and still managed to play 27 events. You have to look at that strongly.

“Then you look at Tiger. He has five wins out of 18 events. That’s pretty strong ... As a winner, there’s no doubt Tiger is the guy. But I feel Vijay has played more events more consistently.”

Woods said he, Weir and four-time winners Singh and Davis Love missed their chance to clinch Player of the Year by not winning the Tour Championship, which went to PGA Championship runner-up Chad Campbell.