Singh defeats all-star field at Bay Hill

Vijay Singh became the first two-time winner of the season on the PGA Tour with a two-shot victory over Rocco Mediate in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

CRAIGTOUN, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 04: Vijay Singh of Fiji looks on while winning the Dukes Course Skins Game in aid of Breast Cancer Charity, played at The Dukes Course on October 4, 2006 Craigtoun, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
By Paul O'Hagan
published

After finishing runner-up three times at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Vijay Singh may have been forgiven for thinking this was his bogey event. But he held it together in tough conditions to take this season's championship.

Singh bogeyed two of the last three holes but by then, he was far enough ahead to win by two. It all looked tight at the top early on until Singh made four birdies in five holes from the fifth to storm ahead of the pack.

An eagle at the sixth kept Mediate in contention but he could not get near Singh?s final score of eight under par. Vaughn Taylor had the lead going into the final round but could only make two birdies on Sunday on his way to a disappointing round of 73.

Tiger Woods began the week ominously for the rest of the field with an opening round of 64 but his tournament went down hill from there. He followed his lowest round of the season with a 73, a 70 and a final round of 76. The 76 included six dropped shots in the last three holes.

Sergio Garcia was the top European, finishing tied for fifth on 3-under par, one ahead of Luke Donald.

Singh?s 31st victory on the PGA Tour equaled the record for most American wins by a non-US player. England's Harry Cooper also has 31 American titles.

Arnold Palmer Invitational

FINAL LEADERBOARD

(US unless stated):

-8 V Singh (Fiji)

-6 Rocco Mediate

-5 V Taylor

Paul O'Hagan
Paul joined Golf Monthly in 2006 in a junior role and has since worked as senior staff writer and now as technical editor. He writes equipment and instruction content and tests the vast majority of golf clubs that are introduced every year.
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