Historic win for Singh
Vijay Singh defeated John Daly on the first play-off hole to become the first back-to-back winner of the Houston Open.
On Wednesday, Singh was announced as the newest inductee to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Yesterday the 42-year-old native of Fiji added another victory to his stellar resume – his 26th on the PGA Tour – by outlasting a hard-charging Daly.
Both players finished at 13-under-par 275. Singh, who has won three of the last four tournaments in Houston, entered the final round tied with Gavin Coles for the lead and fired a two-under 70.
Daly and Singh went back to the 18th tee to start the play-off and Singh pushed his drive right into the rough. Daly, who had birdied 18 to tie Singh, hit a fairway metal through the fairway and into the water, essentially handing Singh the title.
After reaching the green with his second shot, Sing two-putted from 45 feet to close out his second victory of the season.
Three Britons finished in the top 10, with Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, after a closing 67, and Englishman Greg Owen, who shot 72, tied for fourth on 278. England’s Brian Davis tied for seventh on 280 after a closing 70.
Daly started the day tied for sixth and made his move on the back nine. He birdied three of his final four holes, including 17 and 18, to finish with a five-under 67.
Singh was on the 16th fairway when he heard the roar from the 18th green after Daly’s closing birdie. All he could do was smile, which was wiped away after his turn on the final hole.
Singh had a six-foot birdie putt that would have given him the win, but the putt slid just to the right of the hole, sending the players back to the 18th tee.
Coles actually outplayed Singh on the front nine, carding a birdie on number seven to make the turn at one-under. But a double-bogey and two bogeys on the final nine resulted in a three-over 75 which dropped him to a tie for seventh at eight-under.
Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal finished third at 11-under 277.
