Heart-stopping win gives Singh renewed confidence
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
AKRON, Ohio -- Vijay Singh certainly didn't want to leave himself a 4-footer.
Not after missing a putt from just that distance at the 16th hole. Not with Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby breathing down his neck. And certainly not with a tenuous one-stroke lead and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational hanging in the balance.
But that's exactly what Singh did on the 72nd hole Sunday at Firestone Country Club on Sunday afternoon.
This time, though, the belly putter cooperated, and the hours spent on the practice green at TPC Sawgrass preparing for just such an eventuality paid off.
Singh made the putt and raised both fists in the air as he won his first World Golf Championships title in 26 starts. The victory was the 32nd of his World Golf Hall of Fame career and ended a victory drought of nearly 18 months.
The win, which was worth $1.35 million and 4,725 FedExCup points, positions Singh among the favorites to capture what would be his third PGA Championship next week at Oakland Hills.
"It gives me a lot of confidence," Singh admitted. "You know, I struck the ball really well, especially with my irons. Except for the second day, my driver was really good all week. But it gives me puts me in a really good frame of mind going into next week and the rest of the season."
Singh, you see, has a six-week plan. It started with the Bridgestone Invitational, continues at the PGA and with any luck -- and continued solid play -- will end at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola with Singh in contention for the $10 million bonus.
"Although I hadn't won (this year), I was confident I was going to win," Singh said. "I told everybody that knows me that it's just a matter of time, it's going to come. So I'm glad that it's happened so quickly. I mean, this was a six-week run, and I was geared up to win. I'm glad that it happened the first week out."
There definitely were some anxious moments, though, as Singh dueled alternately with Phil Mickelson, Westwood and Appleby down the stretch.
Singh had birdied four of his first five holes to seize control, but told CBS commentator David Feherty he was "kind of sweating" at the end. He later admitted to being "really, really relieved" after the final putt dropped and secured the win.
"I was wondering if I tried to hit it as close as possible so I didn't leave myself a putt," Singh said.
The birdie putt he missed at the 16th hole came from 4 feet, 9 inches and would have given him some much-needed breathing room. Singh then left an uphill 23-footer a shakey 4 feet, 6 inches short at the `17th hole -- although he was equal to the task on that one. Then came the successful winning putt from 3 feet, 6 inches.
In the final analysis, Singh ranked first among the 80 players in the star-studded field in distance of putts made, but it was those short ones that gave him trouble. The big Fijian made just 9 of 12 from 3-5 feet, 3 of 9 from 5-7 feet and 9 of 19 from 4-8 feet
"I've been practicing four- and five-footers all week last week, and at the end of the day it pays off," said Singh, who admitted to being "very, very uncomfortable" from that distance. "And 17 and 18, it showed up. I told myself, just like home, go ahead and make the stroke, and it went in."
The belly putter he has begun using again may or may not be the long-term answer. (And by the way, does anyone find it funny that a man with washboard abs needs a belly putter?) But it certainly worked at Firestone as Singh broke par in all four rounds, the only player in the field to accomplish that feat.
"How many methods has he tried," Westwood wondered. "He's done all but grip it between his teeth. There's nothing wrong with that. You have to find something that works."
Of course, no man has won a major championship using a belly putter. Singh is committed, though, and he's clearly pleased with the way the rest of his game has come together.
"I played well; made a lot of birdies," Singh said. "Although I missed quite a few, I made some nice putts. The whole game was good. But my iron play was really better than the rest of the my driver or my putting. My iron game was about one of the best weeks I've had for a long, long time.
"It was good to see and good to know that it's happening at the right time. We've got some good tournaments coming up, and I'm just looking forward to playing next week now."
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