Singh Ends His Long Drought

Vijay Singh didn’t allow for much suspense in the final round of the Shell Houston Open.

Singh won his first PGA Tour title since the 2000 Masters, closing with a four-under-par 68 Sunday for a six-stroke victory and tournament-record 22-under 266 total on the TPC at The Woodlands in Texas.

He earned $720,000 for his 10th PGA Tour title.

“It’s been almost two years, I was wondering when the next one would come,” said Singh, who did win consecutive European tour events last year in Asia. “It couldn’t be at a better time, two weeks before the Masters.”

A different player has won each of the last 14 events on the PGA Tour, the longest such stretch since 1994 when the tour went 20 tournaments without a repeat champion.

Darren Clarke shot a 71 to finish second at 272. Jose Maria Olazabal was another stroke back after a 70. Jay Haas (69) and Shigeki Murayama (70) followed at 275.

“I knew I wasn’t going to worry about anybody but Darren; I played really well and kept him at bay,” Singh said.

“I really didn’t want to worry about him and [was able to] concentrate on what I was doing. Darren really played well. It was closer than it looked.”

Singh’s 22-under total shattered the tournament record of 18 under set by Curtis Strange in 1980 at Woodlands Country Club.

Singh’s six-stroke margin of victory matched the tournament record set by Jackie Burke in 1952.

Singh had played in 50 PGA Tour events without a victory.

“You always get antsy when you don’t win, it’s just a matter of how you handle it,” Singh said.

“Last year, I got a little antsy and this year I decided to just concentrate on playing. Today, I wanted to play a solid round and that’s what I did.”

Dave Eichelberger won his first Senior PGA Tour event in three years when rain wiped out the final round of the Emerald Coast Classic at Milton, Fla.

Eichelberger opened with consecutive five-under 65s for a two- stroke victory over Doug Tewell, still two back after 10 holes when the final round was called off.

Lanny Wadkins was third, four strokes back at 134. Hubert Green finished at 135.

Eichelberger had his 12th career hole-in-one in the first round, using a seven-iron on the 185-yard eighth hole. “That turned out to be the difference,” he said.