Vijay sings Rose's praises

Retief Goosen was the player Vijay Singh had his sights on at Wentworth today.

But the Fijian was not about to forget Justin Rose in a hurry despite beating him in the first round of the Cisco World Match Play Championship yesterday.

Although Rose lost his first-ever match in the event the 22-year-old certainly left his mark on the former Masters and US PGA champion.

The clash went to the final green and Singh went through only when the Hampshire youngster, four times a winner this season, missed a four-foot putt that he thought he had made.

“Justin has got everything,” said the world number eight.

“I saw him a few years ago and his swing wasn’t as good as it is now. It’s developed into a beautiful swing.

“If he focuses on what he’s doing and doesn’t change his swing and gets better he’s got a great future.”

There was a bit more advice for Rose as well.

“He needs good people around him,” added Singh, aware that Rose’s father Ken died of leukaemia last month. “He needs somebody to guide him through.

“At the end of our match he was tough. Twice he got it back to only one down and I made a couple of birdies. He’s very steady, doesn’t do too much wrong and is a good putter.”

Singh and Goosen were prepared for their match to be the one carrying the smallest number of fans with them. As the only quarter-final without a home player in it that was inevitable.

Three-times winner Ernie Els faced Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington took on Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia, but defending champion Ian Woosnam woke up this morning still not knowing his first-round opponent.

That was because Nick Faldo and New Zealander Michael Campbell were still locked together overnight after a championship record-breaking 42 holes.

Els beat Montgomerie in the 1994 final and also pushed the Scot into second place each time he won the US Open.

But Montgomerie did beat the South African in a play-off for the Million Dollar Challenge at Sun City six years ago and comments: “Hopefully he fears me as much as I fear him.”

The key to Harrington’s duel with Garcia could be who gets a grip first - literally.

Garcia’s pre-shot habit of endlessly re-gripping was a real issue at the start of the season and he has worked hard to reduce it.

If he sees Harrington doing the same on the West Course the Spaniard might think there is a bit of mickey-taking going on.

But the Dubliner is having his own problems.

“I can’t get comfortable with my grip at the moment and am getting distracted by it,” he said after beating Canadian Mike Weir yesterday.

Harrington was also hoping there would be no recurrence of his neck trouble, although as he noted: “It never feels as bad when you are holing putts.”

Singh, meanwhile, has been having treatment for shoulder pains.

“I think flying in did it,” he stated. “My right shoulder froze up a little bit against Justin, but it’s okay.”