Evergreen Vijay
Fijian on the verge of becoming oldest champ in PGA Tour
MIAMI:
Fiji’s Vijay Singh moved into contention to become the oldest champion in US PGA Tour history by firing a five-under 65 in the third round of the Honda Classic.
The 56-year-old former world number one made six birdies against a lone bogey to stand on six-under 204 after 54 holes at the PGA National to share second place, one stroke behind US leader Wyndham Clark.
“I played really well,” Vijay said. “I played like I know how. I just let it go and the swing was a lot more freer. If I did what I did today, this is how I used to play. I don’t know what I found, but I’m going to see if it’s still there tomorrow.”
Three-time Major champion Vijay, who turned 56 on Feb 22, would shatter the US PGA oldest winner mark set by Sam Snead when he captured the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days.
“I’m physically quite capable of doing it,” Vijay said. “Mentally, I’m going to go out there and see how my mind works. If I just don’t let anything interfere, I think I can do it.”
Only six other players have won PGA events in their 50s, the most recent of those being Davis Love in 2015 at Greensboro.
Vijay owns 34 US PGA titles but has not won one since September 2008 at the Deutsche Bank Championship on his way to capturing the US playoff crown.
Vijay, now ranked 938th in the world, has enjoyed success on the 50-and-over PGA Champions circuit, taking three titles last year.
“Playing the Champions Tour, you’ve got to make a lot of birdies. It’s all about making a lot of putts,” Vijay said. “That brings, I guess, aggression out of you and you go out there and you know you have to make birdies.”
In 2016, Vijay shared sixth at the Honda Classic and was second at the National, but he has not cracked the top-10 in a PGA event since, making 36 starts with 22 of them ending in missed cuts, including both prior starts in 2019.
Vijay could end the PGA win drought of more than 3,800 days in his 621st career start.
But in addition to fighting off leader Clark, making only his 19th Tour start in search of his first PGA crown, Vijay must contend with
those alongside him in second, firstwin hopefuls Lee Kyoung-hoon of South Korea and American Keith Mitchell, with US star Rickie Fowler another shot back on 205.
Vijay won his first PGA title at the Buick Classic in June 1993 – six months before Clark was born.
Vijay ran off four birdies in six holes starting at the par-five third, his longest holed putt in the run from 18 feet at the par-four sixth. After closing the front nine with his lone bogey, Vijay sank a six-foot
birdie putt at the par-three 15th and a seven-foot birdie putt at the parfive 18th.
Clark’s best career PGA finish was a share of 10th last week at Puerto Rico that earned him a spot in this week’s field.
“I played in some final groups as a junior and in college,” Clark said.
“Obviously there’s more people and more pressure. I like the moment. It’s fun to play in that situation.” — AFP