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Journalism of Courage
With the spotlight on him, Fiji’s Vijay Singh delivered, fending off a bold charge from Zimbabwe’s Nick Price to win the $5.6 million PGA Byron Nelson Championship by two strokes yesterday.
Coincidentally, Singh and Price have been among the most outspoken critics of Annika Sorenstam’s participation in the Colonial tournament, which starts Thursday. Singh made headlines when he slammed Sorenstam, saying a woman had no place in a men’s event, but he put the controversy out of his mind and let his clubs do the talking. “I spoke to my wife a lot,” said Singh, who collected $1.008 million for his 13th victory on the PGA Tour, his second this year. She said, ‘just go and play.’ the way I was playing, I just wanted to focus on my game.”
He wasn’t at his very best for much of the round, picking up three birdies and two bogeys in the first 11 holes, but when the challenge was issued, he responded magnificently. Singh, who has pulled out of the Colonial, started the final round with a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman and three-shot advantage on Price, who played two groups ahead. A tap-in birdie at the first extended Singh’s lead, but by the time he got to the 12th tee, he found himself a shot behind Price. A birdie at the 12th made it level again, but Price birdied the 14th to regain the lead. However, his three-putt bogey at the 15th opened the door for Singh, who slammed through it by sinking a 28-foot birdie at the same hole moments later.
