Singh bounces back with Mercedes victory
IN: News | US PGA | Mercedes-Benz Championship (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 08 Jan 2007
Just in case anyone was concerned about Vijay Singh's game being in decline, he answered in the most emphatic fashion today with a wire-to-wire victory at the season opening Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua on the island of Maui.
After a season in 2006 that saw him slip from number two to number seven in the world, Singh worked overtime in the off season and has returned with vengeance. His two shot win over Adam Scott may appear close on paper but the Fijian always appeared in control. It was just reward for several near misses in this event previously and should see Singh pick up a couple of places in the world ranking before many ahead of him have even woken up from their annual hibernation.
With a three shot lead heading into today's final round, Singh made just the start he wanted when he hit his approach at the par four first to two feet and followed with an eleven foot putt at the second to widen the margin to five over Will MacKenzie, who appeared early on as if he might be the biggest concern for Singh. After an early bogey however MacKenzie birdied three holes in a row from the second to move to ten under and at that point was emerging as Singh's closest pursuer.
MacKenzie is a likeable, affable, character who, despite not playing well while in Australia late last year, still appears to have benefited from the decision to play the Australian Open and the MasterCard Masters. He is a significant talent who gave the game away after a brilliant junior golfing career but the last few years have seen him quickly make up for lost time. He fell back later in the round today and eventually finished in a share of fourth behind Singh, Scott and Trevor Immelman.
Like Singh, Scott has set about retrieving his game over the Xmas break and whatever he has been working on it appears to have done the trick. Despite winning the Tour Championship in October, Scott was not happy with his form at the Australian Open, the PGA and the Target World Challenge and that he was able to rescue his game so quickly further reflects the growing maturity in the Scott game.
Scott's excellent play in such windy conditions is another indication of where he is at with his game as he has not always been at his best in such conditions. He had an opportunity to put just that little extra pressure on Singh with two holes to play but a three putt bogey at the 17th put paid to any hopes of heroics at the final hole. Still he hit two fine shots at the last two 30 feet and when he two putted for birdie he had closed the margin to two after being seven behind Singh after just three holes today.
Immelman came into this event with his best season in golf behind him and a recent runner up placing to Ernie Els at the South African Open to give him hope for a good week in what was his debut in this event. He had exactly that when finishing in third place, three behind Scott and at just 27 years of age, he still has a lot of improvement in him yet. Both he and Scott may well emerge as the 'mid twenty somethings' most likely to succeed at an even higher level in 2007.
Of the other Australians in the field Stuart Appleby did best when 13th, John Senden and Geoff Ogilvy were 19th, Rod Pampling was 22nd while Aaron Baddeley finally got going with an improved final round but finished well back in 27th place.
The USPGA Tour now heads to the Sony Open in Honolulu where fifteen Australians are currently entered to play with three of those playing their first event as USPGA Tour card holders.
Photo - Anthony Powter
