Vijay

Singh

Vijay, 58, and Qass, 31, are solo 4th, two back of leaders Team Cink after carding an eagle and nine birdies today. Making their 15th appearance in the event as a tandem, their best finish is runner-up three times, including last year to Team Thomas, who they’ll be with in the penultimate group on Sunday, scheduled out at 10:59 am ET. There’s a myriad of compelling storylines this week, but this final-round grouping will garner plenty of attention (and airtime) tomorrow, particularly after the Singh’s came up one swing short of the Thomas’ last year despite hanging up a pair of 60s.

Having first played together in 2003 when Qass was 13, the Singh duo has been a staple in the PNC Championship for the last two decades. Collecting their best result last year, the two have finished on the podium numerous times including in 2005, 2012, and 2014. Vijay had numerous starts on the PGA Tour Champions this past season, collecting a number of quality results. Qass on the other hand, now 31, has professional experience and even works out with PGA Tour players such as Lanto Griffin.

The standout from the University of Oregon is arriving fresh off a T39 at the AT&T Byron Nelson where he was positioned T19 or better after each of the first three rounds before fading with a Sunday 73. He gained 4.1 strokes around-the-green for the week, a category in which he’s bettered the field in eight of his last nine starts. That could prove to be a useful skill this week at Kiawah Island, a course that stretches out to nearly 7,900 yards. Clark will be making his second career appearance at the PGA Championship, missing the cut in his 2020 tournament debut.

Singh pegged it on the Champions circuit last week and opened with 74-72 before withdrawing during final-round action. He will remain sidelined this week. The 58-year-old has finished T62 or worse in each of his last 15 events on the PGA TOUR so he was likely far off the fantasy radar, to begin with.

After opening with 3-over 75 (3 birdies, 6 bogeys), the 57-year-old was 5-over thru 10 holes in R2 on Friday (3 bogeys, 1 double bogey-6) when play was suspended due to darkness. The WD, announced on Saturday morning, is his eighth mid-tourney WD in 632 career events and first in 97 major appearances. Singh, who plays primarily on the senior circuit, is a 3-time major winner, including the 2000 Masters, and most recently a playoff win at the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Singh received some scrutiny when his name first popped up for the first Korn Ferry event in more than three months, given his lengthy career and high standing on the PGA Tour’s career all-time earnings list. But his lifetime Tour membership doesn’t get him into the Charles Schwab Challenge, thereby opening the door to potentially playing on the developmental circuit at a facility where he regularly practices. But with the entry deadline still days away, Singh has taken his name out of consideration for the newly-minted Korn Ferry Challenge on the Dye Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass. Instead his return to competition will likely come the following week at the RBC Heritage. Singh, 57, has made just one PGA Tour cut in nine starts dating back to last year, that coming at the 2019 Honda Classic where he finished sixth.

He shot 70, 67 and 69 and now stands just two shots back of Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson. With Tiger just four shots behind Vijay, Sunday guarantees to be an exciting final round.

Vijay, along with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Kenny Perry are all great picks for this tournament. He’s using a new putter this week, which could be a good or bad thing for the big man.

Vijay has never won in Akron, but usually plays pretty well. Then again, where doesn’t he play well? He finished tied for 32nd last year, but he may have mailed it in after winning the PGA Championship the week before. Will Phil Mickelson do the same this week? Maybe.

Singh is a past champ at the Honda, winning the 1999 edition which was played at TPC Heron Bay in Coral Springs, Florida. The 57-year-old hasn’t been a frequent visitor of PGA National in recent years but he did play last year and surprised many with a solo-6th finish. It was his third finish of 6th or better in six tries at PGA National. More recently, Singh arrives with a missed cut at the Sony Open this year and a 29th-place finish at the Mitubishi Electric Championship (Champions Tour). That is nearly identical to his lead-up form last year. Singh has finished outside the top 45 in 17 of his last 18 PGA TOUR events so gamers shouldn’t expect a repeat of last year’s Honda Classic showing.