Vijay Singhing following six shot win
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2002 Shell Houston Open | Wrap | 01 Apr 2002
I guess I should have known the first time I didn’t back Singh in his last six starts then he would likely win. Singh who has been in his usual consistent form this year despite not having won in the US for nearly two years showed that when he gets it right there are few that can match it with him.
His six shot win over a resurgent Darren Clarke was as a comfortable as the margin would suggest. Starting the last round three ahead of Clarke and five ahead of Olazabal, Singh put together an almost faultless 4 under 68 and a final total of 22 under equalling the tournament record set by Curtis Strange in 1980.
An indication of just how consistent Singh is in America is that in his last 92 starts since the beginning of 1999 in the US, he has missed only seven cuts. There are few with such a record, perhaps only Woods, who has made his last 85 cuts and has only missed one in his five and a half year years on tour. This was his tenth win on tour not to mention a further 21 victories worldwide.
Clarke, who has played only a few events this season, looks to be swinging extremely well. He has shown in the past that Augusta holds no real fears for him with an 8th there in 1998 behind O’Meara.
Olazabal completed a non-American trifecta, and along with Singh, both recent winners of the Masters gave clear indication that both are in great heart and form for the big event just two weeks away.
48-year-old Jay Haas was fourth, tied with Shigeki Maruyama. Adam Scott the 21 year old Australian taking advantage of an invitation to play here as part of his preparation for the Masters, in which he is one of four Australians participating, finished in a tie for sixth and his best finish in the US. Despite missing the cut last week at the TPC he has shown with his runaway win in Qatar a few weeks ago that he is in peak form as he heads to Augusta. Scott earned $US130,000.
Greg Chalmers ($US54,000) a better week for him and finished in 17th, Rod Pampling whose $US33,000 for 23rd will take him very close to the mark for next season’s playing privileges, Greg Norman who ran out of steam with a last round 76 also 23rd, Geoff Ogilvy 34th along with Robert Allenby with Craig Parry 56th.
New Zealanders Frank Nobilo was tied for 17th ($US54,000), Phil Tataurangi 34th and Grant Waite 68th.
