NEW YORK, Dec 6: World number one Vijay Singh, the game's hottest player over the last 18 months, was named the 2004 PGA Tour player of the year on Monday. The 41-year-old Fijian, who became the first player in tour history to earn more than $10 million in a single season, was the clear-cut choice after balloting of the tour members.

Singh won his third career major in the U.S. PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in August before ending his 2004 campaign with nine victories. He was runaway leader on the U.S. money list with earnings of $10,905,166.

Of the eight tournaments he played during August, September and October, he won six and tied for second in another. He produced 18 top-10 finishes in 29 tour starts, a golden run of form in one of the greatest individual years in the history of the game. -Reuters