Win isn't a popular decision
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NORTON - Tiger Woods is on the shelf and Phil Mickelson was sent home Sunday, but there was still hope for a feel-good story, an embraceable winner in the sixth
Tournament folk no doubt were praying for Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, or even Mike Weir.
No. Vijay Singh vaporized the field with five birdies between the sixth and 14th holes and went from two back to five ahead to suck all the drama from the event. Singh won by five strokes and effectively put it away with a 60-foot putt on 14 - sending folks out to Route 140 earlier than they'd planned.
Like it or not, Vijay wins. For the second straight week and the second time in five years here.
What is it about this guy? Singh is a tremendous player. He's the ultimate rags-to-riches story. He's been better after 40 than Sophia Loren (22 wins since turning 40). He's one of only two players to displace Tiger at the top of the rankings since 1997. He's in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he's hotter than the Jonas Brothers.
But golf fans root against him. Vijay is the fly in the punch bowl at the wedding reception. His victories are embraced the way Patriots wins are celebrated by football fans who don't live in New England. He's earned his reputation as Mr. Uncongeniality of the PGA beauty pageant.
Vijay is the one who ripped Annika Sorenstam when she played against men in 2003. He's the one who got into a dust-up with Mickelson over the length of Phil's spikes at the Masters. He's the one who was accused of cheating (a charge never proven) a couple of decades ago. He's the one who doesn't care much to interact with the gallery.
But there's no denying his work ethic. If Singh played hockey, he would be a grinder. He constantly talks about "hard work" and is everybody's pick as the tour's top practice warrior.
A native of Fiji, Singh is of Indian descent and his first name means "Victory" in Hindi. He is the only player on the tour who can claim to have once been a club pro in Borneo. But he's never going to be a fan favorite.
One thing we know is that Singh loves Norton more than Trixie of "The Honeymooners." He set the course record (61) at TPC Boston when he finished second in 2006.
He shot 268 when he won in 2004 and this year he registered rounds of 64, 66, 69, and 63 to win again. There was absolutely no drama over the final four holes. His five-stroke victory was a tourney record, as was his 262 (22 under).
"I just feel comfortable here, I don't know why," he said. "The fans are great and the weather is good. I feel a good vibe on this golf course.
"I think this golf course today played the hardest it's ever played. That just makes this that much better."
It was his third win in his last five starts, and there were multiple references to him as "the best player in the world."
That's sounds swell, but it's sort of like being the globe's best swimmer in a summer in which Michael Phelps is on the sideline with a knee injury.
Singh's putting yesterday was phenomenal. He canned a 37-footer on 13 and a 35-footer on 17 to go with the 60-footer on 14. That's just not fair. Made me want to put a windmill on the green at 18.
"I'm doing better on the greens than I've ever done," he acknowledged. "I told my caddie, 'I'm the best putter in the world,' and he said, 'You're damn right you are,' and I made it. It's nice to stand over a putt and make putts like that. It's a great feeling. Nothing better. I've never felt this good on the greens. Ever."
He played wearing a bandage on his left forearm because of tendinitis.
"I might keep this on for a while," he said.
Singh was in a great mood after the blowout. He answered questions patiently and smiled several times.
Too bad the crowds don't see more of that. TPC fans were smitten by Weir, Garcia, and hottie Camilo Villegas. ABV: Anybody But Vijay.
Rooting for Singh is like carrying a torch for George Steinbrenner, Bobby Knight, or Wilt Chamberlain.
Personally, I was hoping Heath Slocum would rule the day, but that was before Globe golf guru Jim McCabe informed me that he's not the same guy the Sox traded for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek (Heathcliff Slocumb retired from baseball in 2000). That left me rooting for Garcia and Els with everybody else.
No way. This was Vijay's day. If anybody else won this easily, we'd call it a laugher.
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at dshaughnessy@globe.com.
