One of the most talked-about topics regarding the FedEx Cup playoff series, which begins with today’s opening round of The Barclays at Westchester Country Club in Harrison has been the four-week stretch of tournaments.
Many players – most notably Tiger Woods, who’s skipping this week’s event – either have publicly or privately complained about it being too many tournaments in a row – particularly with the Presidents Cup coming right after this year’s “playoffs” and the Ryder Cup coming after them next year.
There’s one player in the field this week, however, who welcomes the grind of four in a row and that’s Vijay Singh, the PGA Tour’s most notable iron man, who plays more events and logs more practice range hours than most players.
“He’s kind of like the Cal Ripken of golf,” Jim Furyk said yesterday of Singh, a fellow Ponte Vedra, Fla., resident. “It’s incredible Vijay is able to play as many events as he does and stay in the condition and mental frame that he’s in. He’s just so driven. That’s what makes Vijay incredible.
“I think he’s probably maybe not beating quite as many balls as he used to, but he’s still leading the league. I’d like to say I wish I could do that when I (am) his age. But I can’t do it now so it’s not going to happen when I’m 44.”
There actually was an incident at a previous event at Westchester, where Singh has won three times, when he was, according to a PGA Tour source, fined for refusing to leave the practice range while a violent electrical storm descended upon the area.
“It’s pretty amazing what he does,” Furyk said. “I don’t think there are a lot of guys that are physically strong enough to do what he does; and mentally is another story. To get up every morning and want to beat your head against the wall without a break and a rest is pretty mentally demanding, as well.”
Singh shrugs when he hears his peers marvel at his work habits.
“I’ve done it for so many years and I love playing,” he said, “All my life, I’ve just played a lot of events. A lot of guys stay home and practice a lot. I pretty much play a lot of events and keep myself sharp that way. I do better work on the road than I do at home.”
Singh begins this FedEx Cup series second to Woods in points, 100,000 to 99,000, and is a lock to surpass him this week with a decent performance. Singh is seeking to make something of this series after being shut out in the majors since his 2004 PGA Championship win.
“I’m very disappointed the last two years in the majors,” Singh said. “I’ve played poorly, take away the two weeks this year (his wins at the Mercedes and Bay Hill). I’ve just managed to play a lot of events, but I have not performed the way I think I should.
“I feel disappointed. Age has got nothing to do with it. I feel stronger now than I’ve ever (felt) and I think I’m going to get stronger still.”
Singh said he always feels strong playing Westchester, where he won in 1993, 1995 and last year.
“I think I have more knowledge about this golf course than any other,” he said. “That’s why I always play well here.”