"Six More Years Yet, Says SIngh"

ZANZEER SINGH
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Look who’s in town ... former world golf number one, Vijay Singh relaxing in Nadi yesterday.

Former world number one Vijay Singh is aiming for a strong start next season after falling out of the top five in rankings this year.

Singh, who won only one tournament on the PGA Tour this year, has slumped to sixth spot in the latest world rankings released on Monday.

He now has 6.32 points and is behind South African Retief Goosen who has 6.42 points. World number one Woods has 22.09 points.

Singh, who is in the country to see progress of work on the Natadola Golf Course, said he was not worried about the rankings.

But, he admitted having problems with his swing this year.

"I am just excited to be here. I'm not really worried about the rankings," Singh said.

"After the number one spot, everything has been so slow.

"But, I'm hoping to start off strong next year. I'm doing a lot of training. I have a month-and-a-half to prepare for the next season. I hope to practice and be physically fit."

Aged 43, Singh said he still felt great playing on the PGA Tour.

Singh said the age factor didn't contribute to his form this season.

"Each year everyone is getting old but I'm feeling younger," Singh quipped.

"I don't think age has anything to do with my performance this season.

"I think I still have five or six years more to play at the top level."

Singh's only win on the PGA Tour was at the Barclays Classic at the Westchester West Course in June. He ended the season fourth on the money list. Singh earned close to $8million, while Woods claimed the top spot with $17m.

"I haven't played to my best this year," Singh said.

"There are only four majors in the world and they are the hardest tournaments.

"I had problems with my golf swing. "But I think I have ironed it out.

"I'm looking forward to a very strong and big season next year. It's unfortunate that I didn't win any major this year."

Singh, who has designed the Natadola Golf Course, said he was happy with the construction.

He said the golf course should be ready by January 2008. "There has been a lot of work done since the last time I was here," Singh said.

"The last time I was here there was a lot of scrub and bush around. I'm planning to stage a big opening of the new course.

"Hopefully, we have a big event here, if not then we may have an exhibition match and we are working on that."

Singh was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame recently.

He was elected last year with 56 per cent of the vote, but deferred his induction because of tournament commitments.

Singh, who ended Tiger Woods's five-year reign as world number one in September 2004, has won 29 titles on the PGA Tour since first playing the circuit in 1993.

Source: The Fiji Times