Golf

Singh to Big 4: No, thanks

By wire services
Published May 12, 2005

The buzz in golf this year has been the "Big Four," and IMG figured it could not go wrong by inviting Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson to showcase their skills on prime-time television this summer in the "Battle at the Bridges."

There's only one problem.

Singh said no.

The reason for his rejection was not entirely clear. One can only guess he doesn't need the exposure because he gets plenty of that whenever he plays. Singh certainly doesn't need the money, not with over $23-million in PGA Tour earnings - and counting - over the last 30 months alone.

"I've done away with trying to be No. 1," he said. "It seems like I've got to win five times to get up there. I totally forgot about that. That does not cross my mind anymore. I just want to go out there and win golf tournaments."

Singh can always change his mind about joining the rest of the Big Four in prime time at the Bridges.

ANNIKA REFOCUSES: When Annika Sorenstam walked off the course, her chances of extending her winning streak firmly intact again, a fan leaned over the railing of the grandstands and yelled, "We're pulling for six!"

Not anymore. Now it's back to pulling for one.

Sorenstam's bid for a record sixth consecutive win fell apart in one hole Sunday afternoon. But there's another tournament this week, and her game is so strong she could start another streak any time she plays.

"I was ready to play, it just didn't happen unfortunately," she said after ending her streak with a tie for 12th at the Michelob Ultra Open on Sunday. "I am a little sad about that. But I will dig deep and come back next week and play well."

Sorenstam has long dominated the tour, winning 59 tournaments and seven player of the year awards in 11-plus seasons. But her run over the last six months has been particularly spectacular.

She arrived at the Michelob Ultra Open having won five straight tournaments, matching Nancy Lopez's record that had stood since 1978.

She had played 43 straight rounds at par or better, and hadn't finished a tournament above par in almost two years.

HE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE CUT: Brad Faxon decided not to have surgery after tearing ligaments in his right knee toward the end of 2003. He had only two top 10s last year and wound up 76th on the money list, his lowest position since 1990.

Any regrets about surgery?

"Every day," Faxon said candidly.

A recent MRI showed the ACL is completely torn with no hope of healing on its own.

ROYAL ARRIVAL: Retief Goosen is playing in this week's Byron Nelson Championship for the first time, and while he didn't get the red-carpet treatment at the airport, he got something even better.

The 93-year-old tournament host was there to pick him up.

"His wife was standing there and I thought, "Well, it's nice of her to greet me,' " Goosen said. "And then we walked up to the car and she said, 'I've got somebody waiting in the car for you.' I thought maybe it was my caddie. And it was Mr. Nelson sitting in the front seat."

OPEN SCOUTING REPORT: A cool spring meant there was hardly any rough at Quail Hollow for the Wachovia Championship. Apparently, it's not much better down the road at Pinehurst No. 2.

Chad Campbell was among those who took a detour to Pinehurst for a practice round before the U.S. Open next month. Along with noticing some tee boxes moved back, Campbell said the rough was down and the grass sparse in spots.

"There's a little work that needs to be done," Campbell said. "They're sodding around some of the greens. The Bermuda (grass) didn't come in because of all the weather, so there's not much rough right now. They need some rain and hot weather."

DOWN FROM THE BOOTH: The results might not show it yet, but Paul Azinger says he is having no trouble making the transition to the broadcast booth as an analyst for ABC Sports.

Azinger has played 10 times and made six cuts, and his best chance was his first tournament, when he started the final round of the Sony Open three shots out of the lead and tied for 17th.

DIVOTS: Jack Nicklaus will be playing tournament golf in consecutive weeks: first at the Memorial, beginning June 2, then the Bayer Challenge outside Kansas City, Mo., on the Champions Tour at a course he designed. ... Fred Couples tied for second in the SK Telecom Open in South Korea and moved up to No. 35 in the world. Couples will lose points over the next month, and needs to stay in the top 50 for a U. S. Open exemption.

[Last modified May 12, 2005, 00:31:16]