Singh lights up Colonial in return to Fort Worth

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Vijay Singh's 64 on Thursday was his lowest round of the season.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Vijay Singh stopped playing at the Colonial Country Club when Annika Sorenstam showed up in 2003. He's finally back -- and among the leaders.

Singh shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday, leaving him one stroke behind Woody Austin and Tim Clark midway through the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

"This is a good way to start a tournament," Singh said.

Singh played this event in 1996, then from 1998-2002. He was scheduled to return in '03, then withdrew after making comments critical of the decision to allow a woman into the field. The gallery mocked his absence that week, but folks seemed to have forgiven and forgotten on Thursday.

There were cheers when he birdied five straight holes in the middle of his round and people groaned along with him when his approach shot hit the flagstick on his 15th hole. The good vibe likely was aided by his pairing with Kenny Perry, a two-time champion, and Brian Gay, who was born in Fort Worth and considers this his favorite course.

Singh described the support from the gallery as "no more than I had last week."

"I haven't been playing well so they've been very quiet," he said, laughing. "Maybe they're going to start making noise here soon."

Singh and Perry actually walked off the final green atop the leaderboard.

Singh had hit 7-under with a birdie on his 17th hole, but gave the stroke back with his only bogey of the round. His final drive landed in a bunker, then his approach dipped into a pond. Perry caught him by parring that hole.

Singh has made the cut in five of his six tries, finishing 11th twice and 12th in his most recent appearance. He's blamed his long absence on conflicts with his European Tour schedule.

"I like the golf course," he said. "The redo is really good. ... The layout is one of the best."