ATLANTA -- Six days ago, Vijay Singh was in St. Augustine, Fla., being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

During a press conference prior to the ceremony, the big man from Fiji joked that people think players who make the Hall of Fame are over the hill. At 43, and one of the PGA TOUR’s most ageless and fit players, though, Singh is definitely still on the rise.

“I still feel that I'm very competitive and I'm probably going to have one of my best years to come,” Singh said Monday. “I feel that way, and I believe in that. I’m definitely not over the hill and am just getting ready for a great few years to come, and hopefully, I can add a lot more to my memorabilia over here.”

Little did Singh know he’d have that chance less than a week later. He starts the final round of THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in the final group, three shots off the lead held by the young Aussie, Adam Scott.

Singh is bidding for the 30th PGA TOUR win of his career, and his 52nd overall. His round of 65 at East Lake Saturday was the low of the tournament and vaulted Singh from a tie for 10th into a share of second with Joe Durant.

Singh’s record at East Lake is quite impressive. He won THE TOUR Championship in 2002 and in 12 previous starts at Bobby Jones’ home course, Singh’s only finish outside the top-10 is a tie for 16th in his 1993 debut.

So in this case, familiarity breeds confidence, not contempt.

“I've played here quite a few times,” Singh said. “I know the greens a lot better than a few guys, which part of the green to hit it at and what kind of putt you're going to get if you hit it long or short.

“But the fairways and roughs, you cannot predict what you're going to do out there, so you just go out there and play. I feel comfortable here. The key to this golf course always has been driving the ball, and for some reason I started driving the ball well. I got a new driver this week and started to drive the ball pretty decent.”

Singh used just 28 putts Saturday, after needing 32 in each of the first two rounds on greens he admits are extremely difficult to read. “If I can make some putts tomorrow, you never know,” he said.

Singh certainly did on Saturday -- less than 24 hours after unceremoniously bending the offending club on the heels of a three-putt at the 18th hole and a missed 4-footer for par on No. 17. He carried four putters this week, though, so he was prepared

“You know, crazy things happen,” Singh said, smiling. “Just fell over and broke it yesterday, if that's the right way to put it.

“No, sometimes if you don't like a putter and you keep putting with it, you know, that way if I get rid of it, then I don't have to use it anymore. I have other putters that were just exactly like it. But it worked today.”

That is, except on the first hole where Singh three-putted for bogey. He more than made up for that miscue, though, with a string of four straight birdies and a 30 on the back that moved him into a share of second place.

Singh started the roll with 9-footers on the 12th and 13th holes. He hit another pin-point iron at the next that left him with 11 feet and then ended the streak with a 2-putt from 90 feet at the par-5 15th, eventually draining the birdie from 7.

“I played pretty decent,” Singh said. “Just hanging around the front nine and got it going the back nine. Hit some really good shots and made some nice putts.”

Singh is looking forward to the chance to win his second tournament of the season. And he’s facing some of the top players in the game -- Scott is ranked No. 4 in the world and Jim Furyk, who trails by four, is No. 2 and tied with No. 6 Retief Goosen.

Then there’s Ernie Els and Luke Donald, deadlocked at 1 under, who stand Nos. 7 and 8 in the world. So what if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson opted to stay at home?

“Who's not here? I'm here, right? Ernie is here, Furyk is here. The golf tournament is still here,” Singh said.

“I didn't come here to beat Tiger, I came here to win the golf tournament. That's my theory.”