Singh rallies to one-shot win

You can’t keep Fiji’s Vijay Singh down for long.

One week after blowing the final-round lead at the PGA Tour’s season-opener, Singh bounced back to win the $4.8m (€3.7m) Sony Open on Sunday.

Starting the day four shots behind overnight leader Shigeki Maruyama, Singh shot a bogey-free five-under-par 65 on another breezy day at Waialae to clinch his 25th victory on tour and seventh in his past 11 starts.

Singh, who improved his score each day, birdied the par-five 18th to finish at 11-under 269 and edge fast-charging Ernie Els (62) by one stroke.

Maruyama (71), who led with seven holes left, faded with two bogeys coming home to tie for third with Charles Howell (67) at 271.

“I let one go last week,” Singh said.

“I was pretty upset for two or three days but I think I’ve calmed down now. This is very much what I needed, a great relief. If I had not won one, I would be tensing up as the weeks go by, but this is a big load off my mind and I can go and relax and play.”

Singh made a minor change to his equipment after last week, inserting a different shaft in his driver, and although he played decently for three days, he kept the best for last.

“I drove the ball really well (Sunday) and my irons came together,” he said.

“I was hitting a lot of good shots and I hung in there and that was the key. I knew scores were not going to be that low because of the way the wind was blowing. At the start of the day I told my caddie I think 12-under is going to win. I thought I was going to come up short, but 11 was just fine.”

Singh collected $864,000 (€659,200) for the win, jumping to the top of the early-season PGA Tour money list.

More importantly, he sent a signal to his peers that 2005 may be just as special as 2004, which he dominated with nine wins to take over the world number one ranking.

Els, who started the day eight shots from the lead, finished in barnstorming fashion, playing the final three holes in four-under, including an 18-foot eagle on number 18 after a lovely three-iron approach.

But in the end, Els left himself with a little too much work, and although he waited in case he was needed for a playoff, he might have known Singh would make it unnecessary.

“You can’t think about a guy like that faltering. You’ve got to go out and beat him,” Els said.

“He’s on top of his game right now, swinging well and he’s got a lot of confidence. I’m not too far behind him. It’s a long year and we’ve got a lot of golf to be played.”

Maruyama, meanwhile, was supported by a huge gallery of his Japanese compatriots, and while he did not play badly, he was not quite good enough. Maruyama made back-to-back birdies at the 9th and 10th holes, but that was it.

However, he still came to the last hole with a chance to force a playoff with an eagle. In 1983, compatriot Isao Aoki holed out from 128 yards to win here.

Maruyama had 91 yards for his third shot, but unlike Aoki, didn’t come close. And with that, Singh breathed a sigh or relief.

“Aoki did that and Maruyama, you never know,” he said.

Singh and Els will join a star-studded field at this week’s Buick’s Classic, while Tiger Woods also will be back in action. The first two events have shown that the “Big Three” are not likely to fade away anytime soon. This week was Singh’s turn, as it has been so often lately.

“I love the weather here,” Singh said.

“If I had to move and I wasn’t playing golf tournament, this is a place I’d like to live.”