Vijay Singh should be getting ready for the Champions Tour right now, not contending in big-time PGA Tour events.
The man is 49 years old. By the end of February he will be 50 and eligible for the Champions Tour.
But with 23 PGA Tour victories since turning 40, why bother with the old men’s tour?
Singh yesterday catapulted himself into position to win again, carding a 4-under-par 67 in the second round to move to 7-under, one shot off the lead, at The Barclays Championship at Bethpage Black.
Singh has been such a phenomenon in his 40s Tiger Woods spoke longingly about hoping to be able to extend his career the way Singh has in his later golfing years.
“I think I’m playing as good as I did any part of my career,’’ Singh said. “I’m hitting the ball as long. I’m hitting the ball straighter. I feel a lot of confidence in me. It’s just I need to get some kind of momentum going to keep me going. I thought I had it at the PGA, but I kind of let it slip there on Sunday [in the final round].
“But it’s all about how you’re hitting it, and right now I’m striking the ball good. My distance is back, and I’m literally pain”‘-free, which makes a whole lot of difference. If you can play golf pain”‘-free, I think you can go out there and play the way you want to play.’’
Asked how long he can keep playing the PGA Tour, Singh said, “I don’t know. I mean, I’m playing as good as anybody out here, so if I can keep doing this and if the desire is still there and fire is still there, I’m going to keep playing here.
“I think if I lose the edge over here, I don’t know if I’m going to even go and play the Champions Tour. But I feel good about myself, my health, my strength and my golf game. As long as all of them act normally, I think I’ll be OK.’’
Asked what the secret to his success has been in his 40s, Singh, always known as a workaholic, delivered the obvious answer.
“I guess I just outwork everybody else,’’ he said.