UP Close With PSR
Vijay Singh

Since joining the PGA tour in 1993, Vijay Singh has been a steady contender in every event.Now, at age 41, he is playing his best golf ever. Singh won eight events this past season, making him the top money winner for the year ($9,455,566), as well as earning him the #1 ranking in the world. He was also the top money winner in 2003, raking in $7.5 million. He had 13 consecutive top 10 finishes from August 2003 to February 2004, and his 12 wins the past two years have drawn comparisons to Tiger Woods' 1999-2001 run. PSR's Steve Flinn spoke with the world's top golfer during the recent 84 Lumber Classic.

PSR: What do you think about the rise in popularity of golf today?

VS: You know, since I came on the scene it's gotten bigger with the kids, a lot younger crowd coming to golf tournaments now. Everybody has picked up the game since five or six years ago, so (golf) has become really popular. It's a world-wide sport now and it's also a full-season event, whereas basketball ends for example, but you can still follow golf. Also, the popularity of the Ryder Cup and the President's Cup has helped golf become one of the biggest watched sports in the world. I'm fortunate to be part of it now.

PSR: What attributes did you need over the years to climb to the level of #1 in the world?

VS: Just perseverance, hard work, and winning golf tournaments. The key is to win. I won, what, eight, nine, 10 (actually 12) tournaments in the last two years? So if you keep winning, you are going to stay up there.

PSR: Describe your routine practice regimen.

VS: I do the same thing over and over again with my golf swing. If I am at home, I don't hit balls much, but I do a lot of work in the mirror swinging clubs. I think now my swing is in plane where if I just keep dong what I'm doing, my swing should stay the same. The more I swing, the better it gets.

PSR: How about training off the course?

VS: I use two different machines that work on my strength goal work. I do more work in the gym to improve my golf swing, or rather to strengthen my golf swing. I try to be prepared when I come to the golf tournament and come ready, rather than finding out after I'm here if I'm going to play well or not.

PSR: What are your goals moving forward?

VS: My goal right now is to keep winning golf tournaments, and that is my main focus. I think it's not easy, but easier, to get to number one than to stay up there, because you have to keep winning in order to stay on top. If I don't win golf tournaments, I'm going to get kicked off that spot. My wife asked the other day out of the blue 'what is your goal for next year,' and I said, 'you never asked that before.' It's a difficult task to stay on top, but I'm up for it, I'm playing well, I'm feeling good, and I think I can win every time I tee it up.

PSR: Do you feel any different now walking up to the green to tee off with the number-one ranking in the world?

VS: Not really. I feel the same I did (before the ranking), although I am being congratulated more. Sometimes it is disappointing to be congratulated for being number one, but not for winning a golf tournament. I think it's harder to win the golf tournament. The major I won is almost kind of forgotten in the ranking system, but I'll still take it.

I am enjoying the ride right now and feeling confident in my game. The number-one spot is good to have, but I think the key here is to focus on the tournament themselves, not worry about other golfers or any outside distractions, and try to win.

PSR: How did you get involved with obtaining 84 Lumber as a sponsor?

VS: I first came here (Nemacolin) in June to play a nine-hole exhibition match with (Greensburg native) Rocco Mediate to open the re-designed Mystic Rock Course and I was highly-impressed by the course and the Falling Rock Clubhouse and also by the hospitality of the Hardy Family. They made me feel very much at home here, so now I have a new relationship with 84 Lumber and Joe (Hardy, founder) and Maggie (Hardy Magerko, President). The first time I met them, I thought we got along very well and hopefully this relationship is going to be a strong and long-lasting one.