BANGKOK, Feb 1: India's Arjun Atwal, Asian golf's first million dollar man, has been named the region's Golfer of the Year.

Atwal, who became the first Indian to qualify for the US PGA Tour last December, was bestowed with the recognition by sponsors Johnnie Walker during a gala evening on Saturday.

The smooth-swinging Indian was not present to collect the award as he is preparing for upcoming events in the United States, Atwal won two events in Asia last year en route to topping the Asian PGA Tour rankings. His victory in the Hero Honda Masters on home soil in November saw him break the million dollar mark for career earnings.

Australia's Adam Scott was named the Young Golfer of the Year after producing another impressive season in 2003 where he achieved a career breakthrough victory on the US PGA Tour and ended the year in a career best 25th place on the world rankings.

The 23-year-old Scott won the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston to add to his Scandinavian Masters victory, which he achieved a month earlier. -AFP