Singh further confirms greatness at Bay Hill
IN: News | US PGA | Arnold Palmer Invitational (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 19 Mar 2007
Vijay Singh further confirmed his status as one of the greatest non-American golfers of all time when he won his second USPGA Tour event of 2007, his 19th since turning 40 (the most by any player) and his 31st overall by winning the renamed Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida today.
It was perhaps fitting that he would finally win this event as it was back in 1993 when he first received an invitation to play here and finished runner up to Ben Crenshaw that he kick started his success in the US. He would win the Buick Classic just three months later and the rest, as they say, is history.
Singh put to bed the memories of a disappointing loss here in 2005 when he double bogeyed the last after catching Kenny Perry with one hole to go. Singh's disappointment then was softened by the fact that he had regained the number one position in the world from Tiger Woods at that time but there was no such disappointment today as he enjoyed the thrill every winner of this event must experience as he shakes the hand of the event's host Arnold Palmer and receives the trophy.
Given the strength of the field he defeated this week, Singh will be well on the way back to the top five in golf from his current ranking of number 9 in the world.
Today Singh enjoyed a three shot lead playing the last and this time was going nowhere near the water with his second. He was able to get up and down from the back left of the green for a two shot victory over Rocco Mediate and by three over the third round leader, Vaughn Taylor, who birdied the last to edge clear of Ben Curtis and take third place on his own.
Singh's victory was established by his brilliant third round of 67 in difficult conditions on Saturday and a front nine today of 31 as he swept past Taylor and Ben Curtis, who both struggled early in their rounds.
As he stood on the 10th tee Singh had established a three shot lead over Rocco Mediate who had raced to the turn in 32, Taylor and Sergio Garcia. Curtis was two further back.
Four time winner of the event, Tiger Woods had made a statement early on the final day with consecutive birdies on the opening holes from 20 and 15 feet before a poor tee shot cost him a bogey at the third. Another birdie at the 8th however and he was within striking distance at five under before he inexplicably self destructed over the closing nine holes. A double bogey at the 11th after a missed fairway and three putt cost him momentum at a crucial time but nobody could have imagined that he would drop six shots over the last three holes to slip to a back nine of 43 and 22nd place. Despite his earlier dominance in this event when he won on four consecutive occasions between 2000 and 2003, Woods has not finished better than 20th in any of his last four starts at Bay Hill.
The best of the Australians was Geoff Ogilvy who, despite recording a triple bogey at the 11th today, was able to complete a round of 72 and finish 14th. This was just the 6th event of the year for Ogilvy and his first start since his runner up finish to Stenson at the Accenture but he appears to be timing his run to Augusta well. He was 16th on debut there in 2006 and must stand a good chance of an even higher finish in 2007.
Robert Allenby was 32nd, with Aaron Baddeley, Mark Hensby, Peter Lonard and Stuart Appleby 45th.
The PGA Tour now heads to Miami for this week's WGC - CA event at the Blue Monster at Doral.
Photo - Anthony Powter
