Born: Feb. 22, 1963, in Lautoka, Fiji
Nickname: Veej
Tour Victories:
• PGA Tour: 34
• European Tour: 12
Major Championships:
3
• Masters: 2000
• PGA Championship: 1998, 2004
Awards and Honors:
• PGA Tour leading money winner, 2003, 2004
• PGA Tour Vardon Trophy winner, 2004
• 2004 PGA Tour Player of the Year
• 7-time member, International team, Presidents Cup
Trivia:
• Vijay Singh's first name means "victory" in Hindi.
• Singh holds the record for most PGA Tour wins after age 40. He took the record away from Sam Snead during the 2007 season.
Vijay Singh Biography:
The older Vijay Singh gets, the harder he seems to work, and the more he wins. Singh's worth ethic is legendary, whether it's his physical workouts or the hours he spends each day hitting balls on the driving range and in short game areas.
And all that work paid off, especially after the turn of the millenium as Singh entered his 40s. In 2003, Singh posted 4 wins, 14 Top 10 finishes and led the PGA Tour in money. In 2004, he won 9 times, posted 18 Top 10s, won the Vardon Trophy, lead the PGA Tour in money, and was named Player of the Year. It was one of the best seasons of all-time.
Singh grew up in Fiji and was taught golf by his father, an airplane technician who moonlighted as a golf teacher. He turned pro in 1982 and won the Malaysian Open in 1984.
In 1985, he was embroiled in cheating allegations over an incident at an Asian Tour event. Singh was alleged to have altered his scorecard in an attempt to make a cut. Singh denied the allegations, but was suspended by the Asian Tour.
He spent time as a golf pro in Borneo, but also continued playing around the world. Eventually, he would win tournaments in more than 15 countries.
In 1988, he joined the European PGA Tour, where he played full-time for five years. In 1993, he joined the U.S. PGA Tour and was named Rookie of the Year.
He contended often but won sporadically before breaking through for his first major, the 1998 PGA. In 2000, he added a Masters title.
His career really took off in 2003, and was followed by the huge 2004 season. At one point in 2004, Singh made 12 Top 10s in a row, the longest such streak since 1975. His 9 victories - which included his third major, the PGA - made him one of only six players in PGA Tour history to post nine or more wins in a single season. He also became the first golfer to earn $10 million in a single season.
And to top it off, Vijay Singh became the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world in 2004.
Singh lost that No. 1 ranking in 2005, but continued to be near the top of the rankings. He won once in 2006, then opened 2007 with a victory at the Mercedes Benz Championship. It was his 18th win since turning 40, breaking Sam Snead's record for most PGA Tour wins after age 40. Singh has won several times since, too. (See: most wins after age 40.)
The Vijay Singh Charitable Foundation benefits charities and non-profits that assist and support women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.
