Singh just off pace at Houston Open
Defending champion Vijay Singh trails leaders Brett Quigley and Australian Gavin Coles by one shot at the Houston Open.
Singh, winner of two of the last three tournaments in Houston, and the world’s number two golfer behind Tiger Woods, was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
He lived up to his lofty credentials in the first round, equalling the course record with a blistering eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead.
But Singh came back to the pack in the second round, signing for a 71 to move to nine-under 135 through 36 holes. He also had his string of consecutive bogey-free holes at the Redstone Golf Club snapped at 64 with one at the par-five ninth hole.
“I hung in there. It was one of those days that could have gone either way, and I just stayed very steady and played each hole at a time,” Singh said.
“I guess the other guys out there would have taken one under.”
The 42-year-old Fijian won nine times last year and the Sony Open in January for his 25th PGA Tour title. He is not concerned at all about chasing a pair of players who have yet to win on the tour.
“I am not worried about anybody but myself,” Singh said. “I am playing well, feel good about my golf. I am not struggling. It was one of those days. You can’t go out and shoot 64 every day. You just have to take what you get and keep plugging along.”
Quigley, whose best finish this year was a tie for fifth at the Sony Open, shot his second straight 67.
He started on the back nine, carding four birdies and mixing in two bogeys before making three birdies on the front side, including one to close his round at number nine.
After a surprising 65 in the opening round, Coles carded a 69. His round included five birdies and two bogeys.
Coles struggled on the PGA Tour as a rookie two years ago before winding up on the Nationwide Tour last year, where he won once and finished 20th in earnings. The 36-year-old’s best showing on the PGA Tour was a tie for 17th at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson in February.
Joining Singh just one shot back of Quigley and Coles are John Daly, Jeff Maggert and Joe Ogilvie.
Ireland’s Darren Clarke and England’s Brian Davis both shot 69s and are in a group of nine players sharing 27th place on 140.
