Singh skips Annika date

BYRON NELSON tournament winner Vijay Singh has pulled out of this week’s Colonial event — but denied it has anything to do with his controversial criticism of Annika Sorenstam.

“It’s a good time to take off,” Singh said, after winning the PGA event by two strokes. He said the decision was not based on the blitz of publicity he generated with comments critical of Annika Sorenstam’s participation in the event, which starts Thursday at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

“I have to be at (Mark) McCormack’s memorial (service) on Wednesday,” Singh said, referring to the International Management Group founder who died last Friday. “I also have something on Thursday.”