Caddie-turned-pro C Muniyappa was on Monday named the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year following his inspiration triumph in the Indian Open earlier this year.

The Bangalore pro with a humble background was the lone Indian in Asian Tour's annual roll of honour in which Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, winner of an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown, has been voted by his peers as the 2009 Asian Tour Players' Player of the Year.