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 Seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, the
52-year-old Fijian racked up seven birdies with his cross-handed
putting style on the tight, palm tree-lined layout at Waialae
Country Club.
He finished the day in a five-way tie along with Americans Ricky
Barnes, Morgan Hoffmann, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker.
Singh, who turns 53 next month, narrowly missed a nine-foot putt for
eagle on his final hole, the par-five ninth, as he ended a
bogey-free display with consecutive birdies in relatively benign
morning conditions.
"I was feeling good about my body, my swing, my mind, so I just went
out there -- it was early -- started off well and just kept it
going," Singh told Golf Channel after making his 19th career start
at the event.
"I scrambled very well. Early on, I didn't hit too many fairways but
I got it around the greens, chipped in once and my putter was
working really well."
If he wins on Sunday, Singh would become the oldest winner in PGA
Tour history, esclipsing the record held by Sam Snead, who won the
1965 Greater Greensboro Open at the age of 52 years, 10 months and
eight days.
Singh, a 34-times winner on the PGA Tour, has not triumphed since
2008, and in recent years battled assorted health problems which
impacted his trademark loose-limbed swing, but he still believes he
is capable of winning at the game's highest level.
"I just want to play," he replied when asked what kept motivating
him as one of the PGA Tour veterans. "I feel like I can come out and
win any tournament if I play well. It's been the same way for the
last five, six years.
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"I just haven't produced the scores that I want to produce, but I'm
always optimistic about my next day, my next round, my next
tournament. Same this year," added Singh, who has long been renowned
for his workaholic approach to practice.
Among the leaders, Kisner and Snedeker played in the afternoon.
"I’ve always struggled at this course," said Kisner, who credited
his improvement to having had a chance to shake off the rust at last
week's Tournament of Champions on nearby Maui.
Reigning champion Jimmy Walker, who is bidding for an unprecedented
third victory in a row at Waialae, carded a 69.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles and Andrew Both in
Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Frank Pingue and John O'Brien)
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