IMMEDIATE RELEASE



IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Julius Mason

August 21, 2012 561/624-8444

jmason@

PGA CHAMPION RORY MCILROY GRABS LEAD OVER TIGER WOODS

IN 2012 PGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND VARDON TROPHY RACE

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Rory McIlroy’s record-setting PGA Championship victory has elevated him to the lead in his bid to capture his first PGA of America Player of the Year Award and the Vardon Trophy, The PGA of America’s premier season-ending awards for excellence by a TOUR professional.

McIlroy, 23, became the fourth youngest PGA Champion on Aug. 12, moving past Tiger Woods, 76-70, in point standings for the PGA Player of the Year Award, based upon victories, money earnings and adjusted scoring average. Woods is the all-time leader in both season-ending awards, having captured 10 PGA Player of the Year awards and eight Vardon Trophies since 1997.

The PGA Player of the Year was first presented in 1948, and the Vardon Trophy originated in 1937.

McIlroy earned 40 victory points for his victories in the Honda Classic and PGA Championship, and is second behind Woods in season earnings and adjusted scoring – each worth 18 points. Woods has 70 total points, based upon 30 points for winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National, and 20 points each for leading the season money list and the season scoring average.

However, Woods is ineligible for the Vardon Trophy after withdrawing in the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship on March 11. The incomplete round resulted in a .10 penalty to his adjusted scoring average, (from 68.91 to 69.01), moving McIlroy to the top of the Vardon standings.

Woods’ adjusted average after the penalty, however, allowed him to retain the lead in the scoring column for the PGA Player of the Year Award.

Jason Dufner is third overall with 50 overall points, followed by Masters Champion Bubba Watson with 46, and Matt Kuchar with 42.

The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The award is 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 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, which concludes Nov. 11.

The PGA TOUR also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner determined by a vote of the membership. The voting period commences Nov. 11, after the conclusion of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. The Player of the Year, who receives the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, will be announced by the TOUR in December. Additionally, the TOUR recognizes a Rookie of the Year and in select years, a Comeback Player of the Year, with both of those awards also being determined by a vote among TOUR members.

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Page 2\2012 PGA Player of the Year/Vardon Trophy

Other season-ending honors to be announced by the PGA TOUR include the Arnold Palmer Award for the leading money-winner and the Byron Nelson Award, presented to the player with the lowest adjusted scoring average (minimum of 50 official rounds).

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.

About The PGA of America

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

2012 PGA Player of the Year Standings

(Through 8/20/12)

Victory Money Scoring Bonus Total

Player Points Points Points Points Points

1. Rory McIlroy 40 18 18 -- 76

(Honda Classic, PGA Championship)

2. Tiger Woods 30 20 20# -- 70

(Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Memorial Tournament, AT&T National)

3. Jason Dufner 20 16 14 -- 50

(Zurich Classic of New Orleans, HP Byron Nelson Classic)

4. Bubba Watson 30 12 4 -- 46

(The Masters)

5. Matt Kuchar 20 6 16 -- 42

(The Players Championship)

6. Zach Johnson 20 14 -- -- 34

(Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, John Deere Classic)

T7 Ernie Els 30 -- -- -- 30

(Open Championship)

T7 Webb Simpson 30 -- -- -- 30

(U.S. Open)

T7 Hunter Mahan 20 10 -- -- 30

(WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Shell Houston Open)

10. Justin Rose 10 4 10 24

(WGC- Cadillac Championship)

# Ineligible for Vardon Trophy due to incomplete round on March 11; penalized .10 for scoring points in PGA Player of the Year Standings

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 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, ending Nov. 11. 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.

2012 Vardon Trophy Standings

(through 8/12/12)

Player Rounds Avg.

1. Rory McIlroy 44 69.02

2. Matt Kuchar 70 69.15

3. Jason Dufner 71 69.25

4. Jim Furyk 67 69.35

5. Justin Rose 55 69.36

6. Adam Scott 43 69.42

7. Padraig Harrington 55 69.48

8. Bubba Watson 54 69.53

T9 Carl Pettersson 76 69.62

T9 Steve Stricker 57 69.62

Points are distributed based upon the following:

A) Tournament victories Points

PGA Championship 30

U.S. Open 30

Open Championship 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

The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

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