After spectacular 2008, what does Vijay do for encore?

text size

Beck/AFP

The ageless Vijay Singh gave us many fist pumps in 2008.

Birdies, pars or bogeys, the reaction was the same. Congratulations, Vijay. Way to go, Veej. What does it feel like, Mr. Singh?

While such words of encouragement may have seemed a tad ill-timed, they were certainly understandable. After all, the big man from Fiji had all but taken the suspense out of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup when he won its first two events.

So Vijay Singh came to East Lake Golf Club last September knowing that he would be $10 million richer as long as he signed his scorecard at the completion of 72 holes in THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Camilo Villegas' victories in the final two Playoff events certainly added some excitement, to be sure. But another workmanlike effort from the tireless Singh in the final seven weeks of the 2008 season defined what others needed the full 365 days to do.

Singh won three times during that span -- bringing his World Golf Hall of Fame total to 34 and counting -- and vaulted to the top of the PGA TOUR money list. Of those wins, 22 have come since the ageless man from the tiny South Pacific island turned 40 in 2003.

Singh persevered despite first battling a rib injury and later tendonitis in his left forearm that would sideline him during the fall. He returned from that rare hibernation to win the Chevron World Challenge presented by Bank of America two weeks ago, though.

Equally challenging was that crisis of confidence with his putter. After willing that final 4-footer into the hole to preserve a one-stroke win at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Singh knew he needed an attitude adjustment. And it worked.

"It's self-satisfying to know that I never gave up, kept at it, hurt, not hurt, pain, it didn't matter," Singh said. "I was out there practicing and believing in myself and doing it. At the end of the day I came out up front, and that shows that all the hard work has paid off.

"I'd rank this one of my best seasons, I think, considering what I went through."

In case you're wondering, that's pretty high praise considering it's from a man who won nine times in 2004. So on the eve of the start to the 2009 season, PGATOUR.com paused to ponder what Singh might do for an encore.

Lecka/Getty Images

Vijay Singh had the FedExCup well in hand early in the Playoffs.

MORE SINGH

Dolch: No end in sight for Singh
Top 100 to watch: Singh No. 5
Video: Outside The Ropes
Photos: Vijay Singh gallery
Player Spotlight: Vijay Singh

Can Singh repeat as the FedExCup champion?
Of course, he can. Anyone with his work ethic and abundant talent would have to be considered a contender. Not to mention, several key changes for 2009 would also seem to play into Singh's hands. First, points are quintupled in the Playoffs where he prospered last year -- and at the TPC Boston, Singh returns to a place where he has won twice in five years. So Singh will have to have confidence. Plus, a reset made after the third Playoff event rather than before the first assures the $10 million battle royale that was missing -- thanks to Singh -- at THE TOUR Championship last fall. And 2008's tie for 22nd notwithstanding, Singh's record at East Lake is pretty impressive; he's finished first, second, third and fourth there, and he has three other top-10s.

Will Singh continue to be the best putter in the world?
He certainly did a pretty good impression in the Playoff events last year. Who could forget that dramatic 24-footer he rolled in on top of Sergio Garcia to extend their playoff at The Barclays? Or those two 35-footers and another one from 60 that highlighted his win at the Deutsche Bank Championship? That said, Singh has always had a love-hate relationship with his putter, switching between a belly model and one of more conventional length whenever the other refused to cooperate. Mind over matter can only go so far.

How many tournaments will Singh win in 2009?
If history is any indication, look for the big Fijian to hoist more than one trophy. Since 2002, he has won two or more times in all but one season. And this week's Mercedes-Benz Championship would be a good place to start -- Singh won the TOUR's season-opening event in 2007 and finished second in '06 and '04.

Will one of those wins be a major?
Singh's third and last major title came at the 2004 PGA Championship. Top-10s in the next six followed, but Singh hasn't been a factor since that tie for sixth at the 2006 U.S. Open. Last year was particularly futile for the No. 5 player in the world -- he tied for 14th at the Masters, shared 65th at the U.S. Open and missed the cut in the last two majors. Look for this to be an area of emphasis for Singh, who needs U.S. Open and British Open titles to complete the career Grand Slam.

What about his hometown event?
THE PLAYERS Championship has never been kind to Singh. He only has three top-10 finishes in 16 starts at TPC Sawgrass -- the best being that runner-up finish to Tiger Woods in 2001. Those myriad hours spent hitting balls on the back range just don't seem to add up to success on the course.

Singh is a lock to make Greg Norman's team for the Presidents Cup, the only International player who has played in every one. He'll be 46 when the matches are held at Harding Park in September -- how much of a factor can he be?

Can you say Kenny Perry? Singh excels in the Four-Ball matches, where he has an 8-5-1 record, and is solid at Foursomes, owning a 5-6-3 mark. Inexplicably, Singh has only won one of his seven Singles, although he does have two halves. If the International Team is going to win the Presidents Cup for just the second time, he'll need to be solid on Sunday.