With the world’s No. 1 ranking seemingly more attainable than it’s been for the last few years, Vijay Singh has found himself daydreaming about overtaking Tiger Woods.
While doing that, though, Singh has watched Phil Mickelson win the Masters and Ernie Els sneak past him from No. 3 and No. 2 in the rankings with his win at the Memorial last week.
So, following his tournament record-tying 8-under-par 63 in the opening round of the Buick Classic yesterday at the Westchester Country Club, Singh was asked who he’d bet on amongst the top four if he were a betting man.
“The way I played today,” Singh said with a smile, “I’d bet on myself.”
Who could argue after Singh’s virtuoso performance, which included nine birdies, seven of which came on putts of 12 feet or less, a testimony to how well he was striking the ball. Singh, who won here in 1993 and 1995 and is always a factor on the leaderboard in this event, scorched the front nine, which was his back nine (he started on No. 10), in 6-under 30.
And he did it by banging his driver off almost every par 4 and par 5 tee box in preparation for next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, which will put a premium on every player’s tee shots.
“I attacked the golf course from the get-go,” Singh said. “I hit a drive on No. 10 [a short par-4] and just never held back. I just played beautifully, hit a lot of close shots, which took away a lot of pressure from my putter. When you do that you’re going to shoot low.”
Singh, the only three-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, said he purposely opted for driver yesterday and this week so he can ready himself for Shinnecock.
“It’s a good warm-up for next week,” he said. “It’s a tight driving course, and to hit drivers this week and be driving it well you’re going to have a lot more confidence [next week]. Fortunately, I drive it really well today and I’m just going to keep doing the same unless something drastic happens.”
Speaking of drastic, let us introduce you to Fredrik Jacobson, whose golf attire is, well, drastically different than his peers.
The 29-year-old Swede was resplendent in a pair of aquamarine slacks yesterday and it all worked in the form of a 7-under-par 64, which stood as the tournament lead until Singh came charging in with his afternoon gem.
The last time Jacobson played this well in the first round of a PGA Tour event, he was unable to stick around to see where it would lead him.
Jacobson, fresh off a 6-under-par 66 to open the Wachovia Championship last month in Charlotte, promptly withdrew upon hearing that his wife, Erika, had gone into premature labor with their first child.
He flew back to Florida at 5:30 a.m. on May 7, the day after his 66 at Wachovia, and just missed witnessing the birth of Alice Sophia at Jupiter Hospital.
He called it “a little bit of bad timing,” adding that it had been “one of the first times I really was in it after the first round. So it feels extra special to be back in the same position so soon after.”
Hopefully, after yesterday’s crisp opening round, Jacobson will stay a few days to see what might transpire.
Trailing Singh and Jacobson is 1993 Classic winner David Frost, who shot a 5-under 67, and eight players who are at 4-under, including Fred Couples, Jonathan Byrd, Loren Roberts, Peter Lonard and Luke Donald.
Buick Classic
Vijay Singh tied a tournament record in shooting 8-under 63 to grab a one-stroke lead over Fredrik Jacobson after the first round of the Buick Classic yesterday at Westchester Country Club.
First round Par 71 (36-35)
Vijay Singh 30-33 – 63 -8
Fredrik Jacobson 31-33 – 64 -7
David Frost 33-33 – 66 -5
Fred Couples 35-32 – 67 -4
Luke Donald 34-33 – 67 -4
Jonathan Byrd 32-35 – 67 -4
Loren Roberts 32-35 – 67 -4
Peter Lonard 33-34 – 67 -4
Kris Cox 34-33 – 67 -4
Dudley Hart 33-34 – 67 -4
Robert Damron 33-34 – 67 -4
Roger Tambellini 33-34 – 67 -4
Notables
Davis Love III 35-33 – 68 -3
Padraig Harrington 32-36 – 68 -3
Ernie Els 34-34 – 68 -3
Phil Mickelson 35-34 – 69 -2
Sergio Garcia 33-37 – 70 -1
Mike Weir 36-35 – 71 E
Darren Clarke 34-38 – 72 1
Full scoreboard: Page 84