PODS Championship

Vijay Singh's winning score of 266 was not the only record set by the 2004 Chrysler Championship.

Monday, the tournament announced that it had presented a record $1.26 million to area charities.

"This total is more than 60 percent higher than last year," said General Chairman Tom Thorn to a luncheon crowd of more than 500. "It represents the hard work of many people, most notably our tournament volunteers. We are thrilled that our charitable contributions are larger, but believe that further growth is still possible."

Thorn said he was issuing a challenge to everyone connected with the tournament to raise $2 million with the 2005 event.

"This is the best day of my time with the tournament," he said. "We get to give away checks to worthy charities for more than $1.2 million."

The total includes money raised through ticket sales, other tournament proceeds and the growing Birdies for Charity Program. More than 120 area charities benefited from the tournament. Academy Prep, the tournament's primary direct charitable beneficiary, will receive a total of $200,000, the largest amount of any one charity.

Any Tampa Bay area charity is eligible to participate with the Chrysler Championship Birdies for Charity program.

The total of $1.26 million surpasses both last year's amount and the previous record set in 1988. The total contribution since 1977 is now more than $15 million.

Singh's victory, his ninth of the year, came on the Copperhead Course at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort as he became the first golfer in PGA TOUR history to surpass $10 million in earnings in one year with a record score of 18-under-par 266.

The 2005 Chrysler Championship will be held Oct. 24-30.