Woods and Harrington front-runners for Player of the Year

MIAMI (Reuters) - World number one Tiger Woods and multiple major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland are in the running for the 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year award.

U.S. Open champion Woods and Harrington, who clinched the British Open and PGA Championship, have been nominated with American Kenny Perry, Fijian Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas of Colombia, the Tour said on Thursday.

Perry won three PGA Tour titles this season within seven weeks, three-times winner Singh clinched the lucrative FedExCup and a $10 million bonus and Villegas claimed the last two playoff events.

Woods, who ended his campaign in June to have reconstructive knee surgery, triumphed four times in just six starts on the 2008 PGA Tour.

He is bidding to win the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Trophy for a record 10th time, and a fourth consecutive year.

Nominees for Rookie of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year were also announced by the PGA Tour.

Americans Dustin Johnson, Chez Reavie, Kevin Streelman and Marc Turnesa and Andres Romero of Argentina are vying for rookie honors while Americans Dudley Hart, Davis Love III and Rocco Mediate are in the hunt for the Comeback award.

In each of three categories, contenders are nominated by the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council and Player Directors. The awards are decided by PGA Tour members with the winners scheduled to be announced in mid-December.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Alan Baldwin)