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Singh wins at Bay Hill for historic 31st US crown
2007-03-18
Vijay Singh matched the career record for American titles by non-US players here Saturday, firing a final-round three-under par 67 to win the PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational. Singh finished 72 holes at the 5.5 million-dollar event on eight-under par 272 to defeat US veteran Rocco Mediate by two strokes for his first victory in 15 tries at Bay Hill, a frustration that included three runner-up showings. Singh's victory was the 31st of his US PGA career, equaling the 44-year-old Fijian with 1930s English star Harry Cooper for the most by any non-American golfer. His first win came at 30 and he has won a record 19 since turning 40. "I'm not done yet. I just want to keep playing and win as many as I can, hopefully a few more this year and next year," Singh said. "I've no real goals to how much I want to win. Just keep winning - that is a good goal to have." The shocker for Singh was less the record level as it was that South African legend Gary Player had not captured more US titles. "I always thought Gary was way out there. It shows how much I know," Singh said. Singh still dreams of a career Grand Slam after two PGA Championship titles and a Masters green jacket, making the US and British Opens his main goals. "Those are the things I would like to win, but they are the hardest ones to win," Singh said. "If I win the Opens that'll be the icing on the cake for me." Singh's second title of the year, following the season-opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, was worth 990,000 dollars. "It means a lot. This was my first tournament in America and I love this place," Singh said. "I hate the 18th hole. it cost me two tournaments in the past. But I love this place. I always wanted to win this one and now I have." Singh birdied the second hole with a chip-in but gave the stroke back on the next hole before rounding into form with back-to-back birdies at five and six and to close the front side. "I knew it was going to be a long and hard day," Singh said. "Fortunately, my putter showed up and did the job for me. I putted great all day and hit the ball really well." He stumbled again at the 11th and sent his second shot at the par-5 12th into the trees. But Singh blasted his approach through limbs and branches and then curled in a stunning birdie putt in response to reclaim a two-stroke lead. Singh birdied the 15th, his approach backing up to a halt inches from the cup, but made bogeys at 16 and 17, the latter from six feet, to trim his lead to only two strokes as he walked to the 18th tee. "My target was to get to 10-under, which I did, but then I threw away two shots coming in," Singh said. Singh went over the green on his approach, chipped 12 feet past the cup and sank the testy par putt to finally claim victory at Bay Hill. "It was a good feeling standing on 18 knowing you don't have to make par to win," Singh said. Mediate, who fell back after a six-over 76 in the third round, closed with a 67 but his charge was too little and too late. "To come out and do this was very cool," Mediate said. Vaughn Taylor, the American who led by two strokes after 54 holes, fired a final-round 73 to take third on 275, one stroke ahead of compatriot Ben Curtis. Spain's Sergio Garcia found greenside rocks near the water at the 18th hole on his way to a double bogey that dropped him to a final-round 71 and a share of fifth on 277 with Americans John Rollins and Tom Lehman. World number one Tiger Woods suffered one of the more horrendous finishes of his career, finding the water at 17 and 18 on his way to a closing 76 and a share of 22nd on 283. Woods, who began the day five strokes back and opened with two birdies, made a bogey at 16, double-bogeys at 11 and 17 and a triple bogey at 18.
Tiger wins Match Play for world sweep (2008-02-24)Singh wins at Bay Hill for historic 31st US crown (2007-03-18)Taylor emerges on a wild day at Bay Hill (2007-03-18)K.J. Choi wins Chrysler Championship (2006-10-29)
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