Harrington is top PGA Tour player of 2008

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that British Open and PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington has been named Player of the Year.

The Irish star, who was chosen for the award by his fellow golfers, is the fourth international player to win it, joining Nick Price, Greg Norman and Vijay Singh.

Harrington also was named the European Tour's top player of 2008.

Tiger Woods, who had won the PGA Tour award the previous three years and nine times since 1997, missed about half of the 2008 season following knee surgery.

.The tour also announced that Andres Romero of Argentina is Rookie of the Year and Dudley Hart Comeback Player of the Year.