After making an eagle at No. 15 and shooting 72 on Friday, Vijay Singh celebrated the prospect of his first weekend at the Masters in three years by doing what he does best besides playing world-class golf: stay silent.
Singh declined interview requests following his round at the Augusta National Golf Club, instead heading for the practice range with his son Qass, his caddie this week.
Although the round itself was pedestrian, father and son perhaps had something to celebrate Friday night: two more days of being together on the golf course. Singh hasn’t made the cut since a tie for 30th in 2009, and in his last two starts, he shot the exact same scores, in order -- 76-78 -- to miss the cut each year at 10-over par.
Prior to those two lost years, the 49-year-old Singh had made 11 straight cuts at the Masters, including his victory in 2000 and five other top-10 finishes. His 36-hole total of 2-under 142 is his best first 36 holes since he shot 3-under heading into the weekend in 2006.
Singh’s first-round 70 included a sweeping, 30-foot birdie putt off the fringe at No. 18. He made a quick birdie Friday at No. 3, but gave it back, and then some, with bogeys at Nos. 9 and 10 to fall back to even par.
That would have been within the cut line but Singh made sure when he parred his next four holes, then chipped in for eagle at the par-5 15th hole. He pushed his iron shot to the right and for a few seconds the ball appeared in danger of falling back into the water. But it stuck to the bank and he flipped the next shot into the hole from about 50 feet.
Singh made a good par at No. 16, making a 6-foot putt, then missed birdie chances of 8 and 20 feet on the next two holes. He nearly made it two birdies off the fringe at No. 18 in a row but the ball grazed the right edge and settled inches behind the hole.
Singh has been battling injuries, age and his usually balky putter this season. He’s made every cut except for one withdrawal due to injury, but his best finish is a tie for 13th in the Farmers Insurance Open.
