Singh rivals Woods' amazing efforts
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2004 Chrysler Championship | Wrap | 01 Nov 2004
Three years ago it was hard to imagine that there would be anyone capable of dominating golf the way Tiger Woods was at that time. After all, how could anybody not only have the game to compete at this level, but the mental tenacity to remain in contention for not just one week, but for many weeks in a row? It took us just two years to find the answer.
It might be that Singh is still a little behind Woods in terms of that amazing run Woods had in late 1999 and 2000, but if he is, then the difference is hard to pick up. Today Singh joined Woods in winning nine events in a calendar year and in doing so took his earnings beyond US$10 million and with one event still to go, it would be a brave man betting against him picking up another win next week at the Tour Championship.
Starting with a one shot lead, Singh drew away to win by five, hardly getting out of first gear as he reeled off seven birdies and one bogey with ridiculous ease. Any thoughts his nearest chasers had of making a race of it were soon quashed when the Fijian birdied the first and second holes to open up the lead further, and it soon became clear it was not a case of if, but by how many, he would win.
We all know Singh spent countless hours on his game in his early years and still does, but it is his amazing mindset that is perhaps a better guide for those looking to emulate him. The demands of contention do not appear to effect or tire Singh as he today completed his 28th USPGA event of the year, almost as fresh as he had started the year when second at The Mercedes. When you throw in a further two events in Europe then it has been a big year, but when you consider that he plays next week at a course where he has already had success, then it appears there is more to come.
The nearest chasers produced their best finishes of the year but they could not get near the world number one. For Parnevik his US$1.5 million year is a major turnaround from his US$570,000 in 2003 and it appears he is closing in on his best form again. For Tommy Armour this had been an ordinary year until now and if not for his win at the Texas Open last year, he would have been facing the prospect of losing his card leading into this week.
Joe Durant was fourth and Kirk Triplett was fifth.
Robert Allenby was the leading Australian in 6th place turning around a mediocre run of late. Craig Parry was 17th, Geoff Ogilvy 20th, Stephen Leaney 38th, Rod Pampling 62nd and Aaron Baddeley 67th.
For Pampling the news was not so good, his disappointing weekend seeing him slip outside the top thirty on the money list by just one and therefore miss a start at the Tour Championship. For Aaron Baddeley however he was able to do enough this week, and importantly those behind him were not able to do enough, to keep him inside the top 125. He finished 123rd on the money list and will be back for more in 2005.
