FORT WORTH, Texas — Vijay Singh stopped playing at the Colonial Country Club when Annika Sorenstam showed up in 2003. He’s finally back — and among the leaders.
Singh shot a 6-under-par 64 on Thursday, leaving him a stroke behind Woody Austin, Tim Clark and Steve Stricker after the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
“This is a good way to start a tournament,” Singh said.
Singh played the event all but once from 1996-2002. He was scheduled to return in 2003, then withdrew after making comments critical of the decision to allow a woman into the field. The gallery mocked his absence that week, but folks seemed to have forgiven and forgotten.
He heard cheers when he birdied five straight holes in the middle of his round and people groaned along with him when he hit the flagstick on his 15th hole.
“I haven’t been playing well so they’ve been very quiet,” Singh said, laughing.
Footnotes.
Phil Mickelson said doctors believe they discovered his wife’s breast cancer early. Amy Mickelson, who learned of the breast cancer last week, went through extensive testing this week.
• Anders Hansen eagled his 17th hole in a 7-under 65 that gave him one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Open in Ash, England.
• North Carolina State’s Matt Hill fired his third consecutive 2-under 69 to finish at 6-under 207 and win the individual title in the NCAA Division I golf championship in Toledo, Ohio.
The Associated Press
