Singh expecting tough test in new season

Vijay Singh is anticipating a tough 2005 as he looks to keep his crown as the world’s top golfer.

Singh is one of a number of big names that will compete in the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, which starts on Thursday, as the 2005 PGA Tour gets underway again.

Singh lines up alongside Ernie Els and Tiger Woods and is fully aware that it will take a massive effort to keep his place at the top.

“Everybody is going to be starting level,” Singh told BBC Sport. “You’ve just got to get in front as quick as possible and see if you can stay there.

“That’s the way I’ve always thought, and hopefully I’m going to start that way again.”

Woods is playing in two of the first three tournaments of the PGA Tour this year, as he looks to regain his number one ranking, which was snatched away from him by the Fijian.

The American looked more like himself towards the end of 2004, and he finished the year with consecutive wins in the Dunlop Phoenix and the Target World Championship.