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Top stars avoid talk of victory

Vijay Singh and Ernie Els haven't won in a while and are trying not to pressure themselves.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 1, 2002

MIAMI -- For two of the game's most accomplished players, each possessing two major championships and multiple victories around the world, winning a golf tournament never seemed so difficult.

Vijay Singh went so far as to make a pact with his caddie that costs either $20 should the subject come up between them. Ernie Els made a pact with himself that he would let up on the pressure, trying not to force a victory. Strange stuff for two of the greats.

Singh, 39, ranked eighth in the world, has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2000 Masters, nearly two years. Els, 31, ranked fifth in the world, suffered through his first winless season in 2001, his eighth on the tour. Both players shot 6-under-par 66 on Thursday at Doral Resort's "Blue Monster" course to trail first-round leader Chris DiMarco by one stroke at the Genuity Championship.

They were tied with Steve Allan and Clearwater's Greg Kraft, who finished second here in 1999 when he hit his approach into the water on the final hole. Tiger Woods was a shot back at 67.

Although Singh and Els are in good position, that is nothing new. They are constant contenders, big-money producers. They combined to earn about $6-million on tour last year.

But those victories

"My caddie (Paul Tesori) came up with the idea that if either one of us thinks about winning, it is 20 bucks straight away," said Singh, who made 24 of 26 cuts in 2001 and had 14 top-10 finishes. "That's what we've been doing from the beginning, saying we've got to win this tournament. So I said let's not talk about it.

"I've been feeling good about my golf game and coming off disappointed instead of going out there and enjoying it because I put too much pressure on myself."

Els had won a PGA Tour event every year since 1994, including two U.S. Open titles, but failed to post a victory last year despite nine top-10s.

"Whenever I play, I'd like to win. I am playing well at the moment," Els said. "I can't push things. I did that last year a little bit, so I'm surely not going to do it this year. If it happens, good. I am playing well enough."

If it seems odd that two of the more accomplished players on tour have gone so long without a victory, consider some other unusual trends.

There are four first-time winners so far this year: Jerry Kelly, Matt Gogel, Len Mattiace and Kevin Sutherland. Last year, it took until May for there to be one.

To find Woods on the money list, you must first pass Kenny Perry, Rory Sabbatini, David Berganio, Cameron Beckman, J.L. Lewis and Kaname Yokoo. Woods is 30th on the money list, 97th in birdies and 134th in putting.

Then there is Kraft, who needed only to par the 72nd hole three years ago to get into a playoff but splashed his approach. Kraft, 37, has not won an official PGA Tour event but comes back to Doral with no bad memories.

"I don't want to forget it. I was there," said Kraft, who had six birdies and no bogeys. "It was more of a positive for me than anything. It makes me work harder to erase it. What a better, sweeter time than to be able to do it this week."

They are all chasing DiMarco, who won his third PGA Tour title earlier this year at the Phoenix Open and leads the money list with $1.165-million.

Els, who has more than 30 victories around the world, at least posted a couple of offseason wins, one in his native South Africa and another in Australia.

"It's hard to explain, but when you are out there and you do a lot of work and you feel that you are putting all the work in and you should win ... maybe you are trying a little too hard and you are playing shots that you shouldn't play," Els said. "I think that's what I did last year."

Same for Singh, who also has more than 30 worldwide wins.

"I didn't want to continue to do that," he said. "I just want to go out there, continue to hit the ball good enough, make some putts and see what happens."

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