Padraig Harrington has become the second European to win the prestigious PGA Player of the Year award, the PGA of America announced on Tuesday.
The world number four, who enhanced his glowing status in the game by claiming the British Open and PGA Championship this season, follows in the footsteps of Britain's Nick Faldo who received the accolade in 1990.
The PGA Player of the Year award, first presented in 1948 to American Ben Hogan, is based on a mathematical formula that weighs tournament wins, official money standing and scoring average.
Although there are four events remaining on the 2008 US PGA Tour, Harrington has accumulated a points tally of 116 which cannot be overhauled by his closest challengers, the PGA of America said.
World number one Tiger Woods, a nine times winner of the award, lies second in the points standings on 78, but had to shut down his season after winning the US Open in June to have reconstructive knee surgery.
Fiji's Vijay Singh is third on 62 points, with American Phil Mickelson and Spaniard Sergio Garcia tied for fourth on 54.
Harrington successfully defended his British Open title at Royal Birkdale in July before clinching the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills the following month by two shots.
The Dubliner became the first European to win the PGA crown in 78 years, emulating Scottish-born Tommy Armour who triumphed at Fresh Meadows in 1930.
Meanwhile, Harrington birdied three of the last five holes to share the lead after the first round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda on Tuesday.
The Irishman, beaten in a playoff for last year's title, fired a two-under-par 68 to set the pace with American Jim Furyk in breezy conditions at The Mid Ocean Club in Tucker's Town.
Harrington, who has triumphed in three of the last six majors, swept to the top of the leaderboard by picking up shots at the 14th, 16th and the par-five last.
Twice US Open champion Retief Goosen opened with a 70, while fellow South African Trevor Immelman, who clinched this year's Masters, battled to a 76.
The 36-hole stroke-play event, being held in Bermuda for the second consecutive year, brings together the winners of the season's four majors.
Seven-times champion and world number one Tiger Woods is a conspicuous absentee, having ended his 2008 campaign after his US Open victory in June to have reconstructive knee surgery.
With Harrington having won both the British Open and the PGA Championship this year, Goosen and Furyk were late additions to the field.
