The Loop

Singh's 1st round a microcosm of his season

May 12, 2011

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Vijay Singh's curious season continued Thursday at the Players Championship. Actually, his opening round was a microcosm of his season.

Singh, who has never won at his home course, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, shot an opening 75 that had the 34-time PGA Tour winner scratching his head. Despite hitting what he described as a series of solid shots, Singh went out in 6-over 42. He hit the ball equally well on the inward nine and carded a 33.

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"That score was shocking. I don't think I could have shot that score (42) hitting it from the basement of the clubhouse," joked Singh, who has recorded a solo second and a T-3 this year on the PGA Tour and is coming off a T-9 at the Wells Fargo Championship, but also has missed three cuts and has three other finishes of 50th and higher. "I hit the ball really well. I have been hitting it really well," Singh said. "Even my caddie said to me, 'I don't know what to say to you.' I just had to keep hitting good shots."

That he did with three birdies on the tougher second nine at Sawgrass, where his best showing was runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2001. "I just told myself there is a long way to go," he said. "I still have work to do tomorrow, but if you can get to the weekend, it can be fun because it gets tough. You never know what can happen."

-- Dave Shedloski

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(Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)