Singh Wins Deutsche, Sapping Playoff of Drama

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The New York Sun

NORTON, Mass. — Vijay Singh kept pouring in birdie putts, 35 feet on one hole, and 60 feet on the next, as cheers turned from disbelief to sheer amazement.

That might be the last bit of excitement for this edition of the FedEx Cup.

Despite a volatile new points system designed to give more players a chance, Singh took the suspense out of the PGA Tour Playoffs with an 8-under 63 yesterday to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in record fashion. It was his second straight victory, giving him such a large lead that he could wrap up the $10 million prize before the Tour Championship.

“Right now, my focus is going to be next week, and see if I can wrap it up,” Singh said.

A year ago, Tiger Woods drained the drama from the postseason by tying for second at the TPC Boston, then winning the final two events.

Singh has been even more impressive.

He won the Barclays in a three-man playoff last week, convincing himself that he was the best putter in golf. He made even more believers on a gorgeous Labor Day south of Boston, making birdie putts of 35 feet, 60 feet, and 35 feet on the back nine to turn this into a runaway.

“He played amazing. It was awesome,” said Sergio Garcia, who was paired with Singh and closed with a 72. “I don’t think you guys are going to realize how good that was, because you’re aren’t playing and you don’t know how tough the course was playing. When Vijay plays like that, it’s hard to beat him.”

Tour officials said any of 24 players still have a mathematical chance — assuming Singh finishes last in the final two tournaments, and some of those guys win both events. Don’t count on it.

“He’s back to form,” Ernie Els said. “He’s such a great player when he gets on form. He’s playing really good golf, he’s got some confidence going. He’s going to be a dangerous guy.” And a richer guy, at that.

Singh set tournament records with a five-shot victory over Mike Weir (71) finishing at 22-under 262, breaking by two shots the record set by Adam Scott in 2003. He collected $1.26 million, enough to finally replace Woods atop the money list at over $6.4 million. Woods has not played since season-ending surgery after the U.S. Open.

Singh won for the third time in five weeks, and it should move him to no. 3 in the world ranking.

Attribute this to the power of positive thinking.

Singh, who has long struggled with the putter, convinced himself last week to stop reading negative comments and consider himself as good as anyone with the flat stick.

He has heard his share of psycho-babble, but realized the most important message came from within.

“Whatever they can tell me, it works briefly,” he said. “But it has to come from inside me, and that was the biggest thing. I arrived last week at Ridgewood with a great attitude on the putting green and just kind of felt like I belonged on the greens. That was the biggest thing.”

Another test came on the 14th.

Singh took the lead when Weir made double bogey on the ninth, then the 45-year-old Fijian made an 8-foot birdie on the 11th to build his lead to two, and stretched it with a 35-footer on the 13th.


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