When Vijay Singh started out as a pro golfer more than 20 years ago, $10-million seemed an unreachable goal for his career.
One more victory — and, the way he’s playing, that could be only one more tournament away — and Singh will become the first to win $10-million in one year, a figure even Tiger Woods hasn’t reached.
Singh held off Stewart Cink’s fast finish to win the 84 Lumber Classic by one shot on Sunday and break Woods’ one-year PGA Tour money record with his fifth victory in six tournaments. Even by the remarkable standards Woods set in 2000, it’s been quite a year for the man who only recently ended Woods’ five years-plus run as the world’s number one.
”He’s going nuts,” John Daly said.
Singh’s eighth championship in 26 events this year pushed his earnings to $9 455 566, surpassing the $9 188 321 Woods made while winning nine times — including three of the four majors — in 20 events in 2000.
It’s a record Singh never expected to set, possibly because the money became secondary years ago to a golfer who has won 45 tournaments worldwide.
”Starting off my career, it was definitely the money that I was concerned about,” said Singh, who joined Cink as the only other player this year to lead a tournament from the first round through the last.
”But, right now, I’m more into playing well and winning tournaments.”
Right now, that’s almost every week.
Singh has won three times this month, also taking the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Canadian Open, and his five wins in six tournaments is the PGA’s best stretch since Woods won six in a row to end 1999 and start 2000.
With Singh expecting to play in at least four more tournaments, he conceivably could hit 10 twice — $10 million and 10 championships.
”I’m going to try,” Singh said. ”It’s a run I hope never ends.
I’m enjoying it so much and I feel like every time I enter a tournament, I should win it. I’m really proud of the way I’m playing right now.”
Even if Woods hasn’t been around to see all of it. Woods was expected to go against Singh in a dual of the world’s number one number two at the amenity-filled 84 Lumber, only to withdraw early last week.
Singh got off to a fast start with a tournament-best 8-under 64 on Thursday, apparently refreshed by a week off when the Ryder Cup was played, then led after every subsequent round. He was out of the solo lead only once during his final round 69 on Sunday, and even then was tied for the lead.
Singh’s third round in the 60s gave him a 15-under 273 over the 6 798-metre Mystic Rock course, which was toughened up after JL Lewis went 22-under to win last year against a weak field. Singh played just well enough to hold off Cink, who went 67-65 during the final two rounds to finish at 14-under 274.
Cink, five off the lead when the day started, made a move with five straight birdies from number seven through number 11. A bogey on the par-4 14th dropped him three back, and Singh won despite a bogey on the par-4 18th and Cink birdies on number 16 and 17.
Cink admittedly was weary after winning only one of four matches during the United States’ worst-ever loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup, 18-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half — possibly contributing to his 10-shot deficit after two rounds.
”If I could play the way I played today in the Ryder Cup …” Cink said.
”I didn’t play this way last week. I just didn’t. I wish I would have, but I didn’t. I wish I had an answer to that.”
Just like the rest of the PGA Tour wishes it had an answer for Singh right now. Never a winner on the PGA Tour until he was 30, Singh now has 23 career victories, all in his 30s and 40s — 12 since last year.
”Look at Jay Haas, he’s 50 years old and still competing,” Singh said.
”I’m only 41. So I’ve got nine more years to catch him. So I think I will go year by year and see what happens.”
Still, Singh willingly concedes this: As good as 2004 has been to him, it’s not comparable to Woods’ 2000 because Woods won the US Open, British Open and PGA. Singh’s only major win came at the PGA.
”Tiger won three majors, so I don’t really look at it that way,” Singh said.
”I’m just trying to enjoy this. I don’t think I can play any better than I am right now.” – Sapa-AP