VIJAY Singh's victory on Sunday in the Chevron World Challenge, the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods in California, may not have added to the Fijian's haul of 22 official PGA Tour successes since celebrating his 40th birthday, but it further enhanced his reputation as one of the most notable mature competitors ever to play the game. It also took his winnings for the year over the $18 million mark.
While it would be an exaggeration to suggest life as a golfer began at 40 for Vijay – after all he was 35 when he won the US PGA for the first time and a 37-year-old Masters champion – Singh's consistency since 2005 has been remarkable.
Still am
bitious to keep on improving – during 2008 he won three times in America, topped the US money-list and wrapped up the $10m FedEx Cup bonus – Singh's work ethic is so strong he plans to hit balls on the range at Sawgrass, near his home in Florida, on Christmas day.
Capable of showing the young guns a trick or two – Anthony Kim, 24, and Camilo Villgas, 26, were among those playing second fiddle to the 45-year-old at Sherwood Country Club – Singh reckons he's not so much the exception to the rule in golf as just another example of longevity in a sport which isn't the sole fiefdom of youth.
"When Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle were all playing in Europe, and I was playing with them, the peak was 35," Singh recalled. "Nowadays with equipment, with the ball going so far, and with us working out very hard, I think there's no limit to what age you should quit. Winning this many tournaments doesn't mean it's a miracle; I think there will be guys out there that are going to do the same thing."
Whether or not Singh already deserves the accolade of golf's pre-eminent fortysomething competitor, of course, remains contentious. Successful veterans are hardly a new phenomenon. Indeed, seasoned champions have been around for as long as the game itself.
Julius Boros, 48, was the oldest golfer to win the US PGA in 1968; Jack Nicklaus was the oldest Masters champion in 1986 at 46; Old Tom Morris was 46 when he won the Open in 1867; and Hale Irwin was the oldest US Open winner at 45 in 1990. Gene Sarazen, the champion who struck the shot heard around the world at Augusta in 1935, was still making waves as a 71-year-old in 1973 at Troon when he aced the Postage Stamp during the Open, a feat he almost repeated the following day.
More recently, Mark O'Meara won the Masters and the Open at 41 in 1998; Craig Stadler won the BC Open in 2003 at 50, and Peter Jacobsen won the Greater Hartford Open in 2004 at 49. On the European Tour, Ireland's Des Smyth became the oldest winner of a regular event at 48 in 2001 at the Madeira Island Open and Bob Charles made the cut in the New Zealand Open when he was 71. Colin Montgomerie was runner-up in the US Open prior to his 43rd birthday in 2006.
Of all Scotland's enduring golfing legends, perhaps none enjoyed a more sustained career than John Panton. Another natural sportsman, the professional from Pitlochry was also an excellent footballer who, in the same season he reached the semi- finals of the British Boys, played trials for Hearts and Dundee and thought seriously about joining the Tynecastle club.
Football's loss was golf's gain and during 38 years as the pro at Glenbervie, Panton won the Vardon Trophy in 1951, the Match Play in 1956 at Hoylake and the Scottish Professional Championship on no fewer than eight occasions. He was the R&A's honorary professional prior to retirement and, at 92, lives near his daughter, Cathy, in Sunningdale.
Born in 1916, "Gentleman John" won the 1967 World Seniors Championship at 51, defeating none other than Sam Snead by 3 and 2 in the final at Wallasey. Of all those who played to a high standard after 40, perhaps none shone more brightly than Snead.
Slammin' Sam triumphed in the 1965 Greensboro Open at 52, making him the oldest winner of a PGA Tour event. He was also third behind Lee Trevino in the US PGA of 1974 when he was 62. A magnificent golfer for the thick end of 60 years, Snead, like Singh, was a strong, supple athlete with a huge desire to win. He once ran 100 yards in ten seconds and, on his last competitive appearance in Scotland as a 60-year-old, drove the ball 390 yards on the second at Longniddry.
Snead was also fond of a dollar or two and once travelled to Sao Paolo for Brazil's national championship. On arrival he was told only the South Americans would be eligible for prize money. Snead shot 71 and slipped down the field. When the promoter relented, Snead posted rounds of 64, 63 and 69 to win by 11 strokes.
I met him in the spring of 2000 at Turnberry when Snead recalled how his manager, Fred Corocoran, who once fixed up a land deal for him worth around $5m, suggested it was about time Sam bought lunch. Snead feigned surprise, walked out of the room and came back with a free lunch ticket he'd cadged from the club manager. "Lunch is on me," he grinned.
The full article contains 922 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
