Golf: Singh finds Houston no problem

Vijay Singh

HOUSTON - Defending champion Vijay Singh won a playoff against John Daly to become the first back-to-back winner of the US$5 million ($6.94 million) Houston Open yesterday.

Named to the World Golf Hall of Fame on Thursday, Singh capped off a great week by tapping in a 45cm putt on the first playoff hole to claim his second title of the season and 26th of his career.

The victory was not enough to allow the Fijian to reclaim the world number one spot from Tiger Woods, but will leave only fractions separating the rivals when the new rankings are released.

The 7600m Redstone Golf Club and its wide open fairways held mouth-watering appeal to the PGA Tour's heavy hitters and Daly and Singh, two of golf's biggest swingers, took full advantage.

Singh flexed his muscles in the opening round with a course record-tying 64, but played far less spectacular golf the rest of the week.

The Fijian, however, did little wrong over the final three rounds, carding just three bogeys to stay near or top of the leaderboard and finish on 13-under 275 after registering a two-under 70 over the final 18 holes.

Singh began the day tied for the lead with Australia's Gavin Coles but was slow to make a move as he stalled on 11-under with pars on his first 13 holes.

Back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 vaulted Singh back into the chase and left him with a chance to clinch the title with a 1.8m birdie putt on 18.

But his shot drifted just wide of the cup and he headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff.

The lapse was similar to other uncharacteristic miscues this season that have proven costly.

Twice Singh let wins slip through his fingers, losing in a playoff to Irishman Padraig Harrington at the Honda Classic in Florida and finding the water on the final at the Bay Hill Invitational, also in Florida, handing a victory to Kenny Perry. "The first round obviously was incredible, and I just hung in there," said Singh, who has now won in Houston in three of the past four years.

"I didn't play extremely well after the first round. I mean, I didn't score well, but the thing good about it was I made a bunch load of pars.

"You've got to have patience, and I guess through experience you have to have patience to win golf tournaments, and that's what I achieved this week. You never give up, I guess, just hang in there and see what happens.

"I've found out that come the last day, nobody really runs away with tournaments nowadays."

Daly launched a late charge with birdies on three of his final four holes for a five-under 67. The popular American capped off his round with a nervy 3m birdie putt on the last. His hopes of victory disappeared quickly, however, when his tee shot on the playoff hole found the water while Singh continued to produce error-free golf.

"It's great to have the fans behind me," Daly said. "I just wish I would have done a bit better on the playoff."

Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal shot a final-round two-under 70 to finish third on 11-under 277.

- REUTERS