Vijay Singh has a third major title to his name - but however many more come
his way there will probably never be another like the 2004 United States PGA
Championship.
The 41-year-old Fijian, now back on Tiger Woods' heels at the top of the world
rankings, captured the trophy for the second time after beating Americans Justin
Leonard and Chris DiMarco in a three-hole play-off at Whistling Straits last
night.
Nothing unusual about that, but there was about Singh's final round - a
four-over-par 76 - after he had gone into the final day with a one-stroke lead.
Not since Reg Whitcombe lifted the 1938 Open with a closing 78 at Sandwich has
such a high score been enough to win a major.
Ill at ease from the moment he double-bogeyed the fourth, Singh did not
produce a single birdie and his ice-cold putter appeared to have cost him his
chance of adding to his 1998 USPGA and 2000 Masters victories.
Until, that is, Leonard offered a helping hand.
Winner himself of the 1997 Open at Troon - with a last-day 65 - Leonard was
closing in on the victory he needed to leap into the American Ryder Cup team
from 30th in the points standings.
He stood on the tee at the long 16th two ahead, but bogeyed that after finding
sand and then missing a six-foot putt.
Needing a par at the 500-yard par-four last Leonard considered his five-iron
approach "perfect" as he watched it in the air. But it came up short on the
bank of a bunker and by failing to get up and down - he left his chip 10 feet
short - Leonard shot 75 himself and the trio tied on the eight-under-par mark of
280.
By finishing joint second DiMarco had done enough to earn a Ryder Cup debut
right at the death, but a first major eluded him after Singh birdied - at last -
the first extra hole and parred the other two.
Chris Riley, not a name on anybody's lips until he stormed through for fourth
place, was the other beneficiary of Leonard's failure to win, becoming the fifth
debutant along with DiMarco, Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry and 48-year-old Fred
Funk.
Leonard was waiting to discover if he was one of Hal Sutton's two wild card
picks, but since this was only his second top-10 finish of the season there had
to be a big doubt about him returning five years after being America's
match-winner - amid controversial scenes - in Boston.
Singh, meanwhile, reflected on an amazing day in his golfing life, one that
ended with him being elevated in the all-time Hall of Fame. Three majors is
confirmation of greatness.
"Wow - I am a bit surprised I won the way I scored," he said. "Justin let
me off and I played really well in the play-off - it was the best play-off I
have ever played.
"Somebody asked me why I smiled after that putt (from only five feet) at the
19th. It was my first birdie, that's why.
"I was a little angry with myself for doing what I did, but in a play-off you
have nothing to lose - you know you can't finish worse than second."
It was Singh's fifth victory of the season and sets him up to be the US Tour's
leading money-winner for the second year running. Rewarding for him and, of
course, his Scottish caddie Dave Renwick.
But the main joy was ending his four-year wait for another major.
"I think this is the biggest accomplishment I have ever had in my career.
This makes my year right here.
"I don't have that many years to contend - probably five or six - and I
wanted to win a few more. I think there are many more out there, I hope.
"When I first came out here I just wanted to make a good living, but then my
motivation got stronger and stronger.
"I wanted to win tournaments and then I wanted to win majors. The harder I
work I feel I can win more and more."
Leonard said: "When I hit the shot on 18 I thought I just ended this
tournament. I was a little surprised it came up just a couple of feet short."
On the Ryder Cup he added: "I would love to be picked and I think I could
help the US win, but I also know there are some guys ahead of me in the points
(he finished 17th) that have played a lot more consistently.
"I am not expecting to get picked and I am not going to be disappointed if I
don't because I know the criteria to make the team."
Sutton had to do a re-think with DiMarco and Riley knocking out Steve Flesch
and 50-year-old Haas. He was thought to be weighing up the merits of Scott
Verplank - a winning partner of his at The Belfry two years ago - Jerry Kelly,
Stewart Cink, Haas and possibly Open champion Todd Hamilton before making his
announcement today.
For Singh to have gone to world number one for the first time Woods needed to
have missed the cut. It nearly happened, but he eventually finished 24th.
Ernie Els, who would have ended Woods' five-year reign if he had been first or
second on his own, missed the play-off by three-putting the last.
And this only a month after he lost a play-off for the Open to Hamilton - and
four months after Phil Mickelson pipped him for the Masters.
USPGA NEWS
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