Singh on song

Vijay Singh began 2005 like he ended 2004 – at the top of the tree.

The Fijian, who won nine times last year as he claimed Player of the Year honours, carded an opening-round seven-under-par 66 at the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.

After a bogey-free round under benign conditions at the Kapalua Plantation course, Singh holds a one-shot lead over Australian Craig Parry.

Tiger Woods was two strokes back, along with Sergio Garcia, Stewart Cink and Jonathan Kaye.

Singh had a quiet front nine, making the turn at two under, but he scorched the back nine, picking up five birdies to seize the lead.

“I played really well,” Singh said. “I left quite a few out there but everyone must have done the same. I was surprised nobody went lower than me, because the wind wasn’t as strong as normal.”

Woods also made the turn at two under but, unlike Singh, he never came to terms with the slow, grainy greens and frittered away a bunch of golden birdie chances.