Feb. 14, 2005 – Vijay Singh has won 20 different tournaments among his 25 PGA Tour titles, but the world's No. 1-ranked player has yet to capture the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, and that's something the talented golfer from Fiji dearly hopes to correct soon. Bay Hill, hosted by golf legend Arnold Palmer, is where Singh made his PGA Tour debut.
"I have a soft spot for the tournament," said Singh, age 41, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., who is the reigning PGA champion. "I got an invitation from Arnie, my first tournament in America, and that has always meant a lot to me. I always want to play in the tournament because of that. I look forward to going back there."
The 27th Bay Hill Invitational is March 14-20 at Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. One of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, the Bay Hill Invitational traditionally draws one of the strongest fields in the game. Chad Campbell, who played the first two rounds last year with Palmer --known throughout his distinguished career for closing charges -- is the defending champion after shooting a six-under-par 66 and overcoming a four-stroke deficit on the final day to beat third-round leader Stuart Appleby by six shots. That victory ended the historic four-year winning streak at Bay Hill authored by Tiger Woods.
The Bay Hill Invitational, which began in 1979, has had an impressive array of winners, including Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and the late Payne Stewart.
Singh, who turns 42 later this month, has proven capable of winning anywhere, especially since he turned 40. Last year he won nine times on his way to Player of the Year honors, and he already owns one victory in 2005, the Sony Open in Hawaii. He has won 13 times since turning 40, second only to Sam Snead, who had 17 victories after his 40th birthday. Only Woods, with 21, has a greater array of titles among active players.
Singh, who in 2004 became the first player to surpass $10 million in season earnings, has a special appreciation for the Bay Hill course that Palmer has upgraded continually through the years.
"It's a long course with firm greens, one of the tougher golf courses that we play and those are the kinds of courses I like and the ones that are the best for really testing us and identifying good players," Singh said. "There are some really good holes out there; 17 and 18 are very tough, probably two of the hardest holes on the tour."
Singh first appeared at Bay Hill in 1993, and he made his presence felt by finishing tied for second. He repeated that result in 1994, and has gone on to post nine top-25 finishes in 12 starts without missing the cut. He has earned $576,592, ninth all-time in the event's history.
Over the last two-plus seasons, Singh has compiled 14 victories, while Woods has six and Els five in that span. His victory by one stroke over Els at the Sony Open gave Singh four consecutive seasons with a title, tying Retief Goosen for the second-longest current streak. Woods leads with wins in 10 straight seasons. Palmer and Jack Nicklaus share the record with 17 consecutive seasons with at least one win.
"Obviously, Vijay is on a real hot streak right now," noted Palmer, who this year has decided not to compete in his own event. "He's playing awfully well, and I suspect that will continue."
These days, what Singh wants on the golf course he tends to get.
"I've played well at Bay Hill. I've had chances to win, but I just haven't done it yet," Singh said. "I'm looking forward to that happening. That's a good one to win and it would mean a lot to me because of the history I've had there. Maybe this year, who knows?"
To purchase tickets to the Bay Hill Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.bayhillinvitational.com, or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
Contact:
Bev Norwood, IMG
216-522-1200
